> Which country is home to the highest population of wild bears?And the answer: Russia. The Kamchatka brown bear, also known as the "Far Eastern brown bear," lives inseveral high density populations throughout Russia. Once a widespread andpopulous species, human encroachment has forced brown bears across the world toretreat to increasingly remote locations. Across Russia, there are an estimated120,000 bears living today.As compared to other bear subspecies, the Kamchatka brown bear is an enormousyet relatively harmless breed. It can grow up to 8 feet in length and 9 feettall when standing, yet this giant of the forest makes its living off ofblueberries, salmon, and trout. The large size of these bears is necessary tosurvive the long, cold Russian winters, where hibernation is necessary for atleast six months of the year. The Kamchatka peninsula is one of the best bear habitats in the world. Themigration of salmon supplies a rich and plentiful source of nutrition, as wellas the coastal sedge meadows and lush vegetation fed by heavy rainfall. In thesummers, these meadows essentially become a "salad bar" for hungry bears andtheir cubs. However, human development continues to threaten the continued survival of thisbear population. Increasing human access, through road development to expandmining and mineral exploration, is fragmenting the once extensive bearpopulation, and Kamchatka brown bears are now becoming rare in some regionsclose to human settlements. Conservation efforts have become paramount forensuring the continued survival of Kamchatka bears. Want to learn more? Check out the video below.