Meet the Gobi Bear, the World’s Rarest and Loneliest Bear

There are currently over 9,760 species that are considered critically endangered. Of those, over 1,300 may be extinct, and nearly 70 are considered extinct in the wild. Additionally, thanks to climate change, habitat loss, and overhunting, between 150 and 200 species go extinct each day. These numbers are anything but uplifting. But, thanks to conservation efforts, some species on the brink have experienced population rebounds, which means all hope is not lost.

The Gobi bear, a subspecies of brown bear, is the only bear currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN as of 2025.’ One subspecies has fewer than 40 bears left. Consequently, conservation groups have been working for decades to save the elusive Gobi bear. Although their population is currently stable, which is good news, Gobi bears are far from safe from extinction. This is why these brown bears continue to need help if they are to survive.

The Gobi Bear Is The “Loneliest Bear In The World”

Gobi bears are a critically endangered species, a subspecies of Ursus arctos, commonly known as the brown bear. They are related to grizzly bears, but are nowhere as large. In fact, the Gobi bear is the smallest of the brown bears. The Gobi bear is known as the “loneliest bear in the world,” as the bears are generally solitary. Gobi bears are only seen together during mating season or when a mother is raising her cub. Otherwise, they are solitary.

The fact that Gobi bears stick to themselves has to do with avoiding conflicts over territory, as well as foraging for food. Given that food can be scarce, if there is only one bear in an area at a time, they have a far better chance of being successful than if there are multiple bears in a region. It should be noted that Gobi bears, like other brown bears, will confront and even fight one another over territory or potential mates. However, it is generally never to the death. Instead, one of the bears will eventually back down and move on to another part of the arid desert in which they live.

Gobi Bears Live In The Desert Region Of Mongolia

Gobi bears are the only bears that live in the desert. The bears do not live in just any desert. They live in the Gobi Desert, where the temperatures are incredibly extreme. The region of the Gobi Desert where the majority of Gobi bears reside is known as the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area. More specifically, the bears live in Zone A of the GGSPA. This region was established as a nature reserve in 1975, alongside Zone B, where Gobi bears do not reside.

Zone A is substantially more arid than Zone B. With just a few inches of rain received annually, the Gobi bears rely on water sources located at oases within the desert. These oases may be up to “100 miles apart.” The bodies of water are fed from underwater freshwater streams. Some of these drinking holes are more than large enough to accommodate a Gobi bear taking a plunge. Others are significantly smaller. All of these water sources are a “lifeline” for the bears as they navigate life in the Gobi Desert.

How Gobi Bears Survive The Harsh Desert Environment

The Gobi Desert is one of the harshest environments on the planet. With temperatures swinging from -40°F in the winter to nearly 115°F in the summer, the Gobi bears need to be prepared for whatever the elements throw at them.

The primary way Gobi bears can tolerate the Gobi Desert is through their body composition. By weighing less than other brown bear species (211 pounds to 314 pounds for males and 112 pounds to 172 pounds for females) and carrying less fat, the Gobi bears are not as warm in the summertime. However, during the winter, the bears’ long fur coats help to keep them warm. This is especially important as temperatures dip, given that, unlike other brown bears, it is not uncommon to see the Gobi bears hibernating next to a group of bushes rather than a lair.

Additionally, by surviving on a mainly vegetarian diet, there is far more variety for Gobi bears to eat than if they were to be strictly carnivores. Other brown bears also eat an omnivorous diet, but compared to Gobi bears, their percentage of animal-based prey is significantly higher than that of Gobi bears. Gobi bears are also not against finding shelter if the temperatures are too high or too low. Therefore, when conditions are at their worst in the Gobi Desert, it is even less likely to spot a Gobi bear as they protect themselves from the elements.

Why Are There So Few Gobi Bears Left?

There are no numbers on how many Gobi bears used to live in the Gobi Desert decades, let alone centuries ago. What is now known is that estimates place the total number of Gobi bears at less than 40.

It is easy to say that it is the harsh environment of the desert that has made the population decline to the point where the bears are critically endangered. However, this is where the Gobi bears have always lived. Therefore, the reasons there are so few Gobi bears left have to do with more than just the conditions in the desert they inhabit.

Gobi bears have long adapted to the conditions of the Gobi Desert. Despite being classified as a brown bear, they are the smallest of the species. The Gobi bears also have a lower fat content, given the hot conditions they live in. While the desert does get unbearable during the warmer months, it is not the heat alone that has caused a decline in the Gobi bear population. There are other factors instead.

The reasons that the Gobi bear population has decreased include:

• Climate change has decreased the quantity of vegetation available for the bears

• Drought, which has caused some water holes to fill up only once per year

• Mining in the Gobi Desert has destroyed the Gobi bears’ habitat

• Reproduction is affected by low genetic diversity within the species

With all of these factors working against the Gobi bears, they would likely have already been eradicated from Mongolia if not for organizations and the Government of Mongolia stepping in to help save the bears from extinction.

What Is Being Done To Save The Gobi Bear

While the Gobi bear population is at critical levels, it is also considered stable for the time being. The fact that this is even possible is due to the conservation efforts that have been in effect for decades. Does this mean the Gobi bears are no longer a species threatened with extinction? No. However, it does mean that what is being done is working if the bears’ population has not further declined.

One of the largest organizations working to ensure the Gobi bear’s survival is the Gobi Bear Project. Founded in 2005, the organization has been collaborating with the Mongolian government to conserve the Gobi bear and attempt to improve its critically endangered status.

Because the Gobi bear is shy, it is not often seen. This makes it challenging to understand where and when it travels, as well as how that travel affects the bear’s wellbeing. But, thanks to the efforts of the Gobi Bear Project, 20 bears have been fitted with collars to track their movements throughout the Gobi Desert.

In conjunction with tracking the bears, according to the Gobi Bear Project, the Government of Mongolia has implemented a supplemental feeding program to help the Gobi bears survive. This program originated as a response to the prolonged drought that has affected the region for over a decade. Not only has the lack of precipitation affected the watering holes the Gobi bears have to travel to, but it has also impacted their food sources. The food that the Gobi bear eats with frequency includes:

• Rhubarb roots

• Sagebrush leaves

• Wild grasses

• Jasmine shrubs

• Grasshoppers

• Locusts

• Beetles

Gobi bears will also eat small rodents when available. But because animal life tends to be scarce in the desert, Gobi bears are omnivores with a primarily vegetarian diet.

To ensure that the Gobi bears have enough to eat, given that their plants are severely depleted and consequently, the insects that come with them, thanks to the drought, the government has been strategically placing “fodder and pellets” for the bears. It is a constant fine line that is being walked, however. This is because the goal is to ensure the Gobi bears put on enough weight to get through the winter, but also do not become dependent on the supplemental feeding stations.

The future of the Gobi bear is uncertain. Although their population has stabilized, it is still at a point where the Gobi bear is considered critically endangered. Therefore, conservation efforts are more important than ever if the Gobi bear is to have a chance at a successful population rebound.

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