The Asian black bear, also known as the Moon bear or White- chested bear is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Japan. It is classed by the IUCN as a vulnerable species, mostly due to deforestation and active hunting for its body parts. The species is morphologically very similar to some prehistoric bears, and is thought by some scientists to be the ancestor of other extant bear species. Though largely herbivorous, Asian black bears can be very aggressive toward humans, and have frequently attacked people without provocation. The species was described by Rudyard Kipling as "the most bizarre of the ursine species."