The historical record of life in North Africa includes several large mammals that have since disappeared, including the Atlas Bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri). This animal holds the unique distinction of being the only native bear species that survived on the African continent into modern times. Its disappearance marks the loss of Africa’s sole indigenous bear population. The extinction of the Atlas Bear was a prolonged event, driven by centuries of human pressure in its mountain stronghold.
The Atlas Bear: Identity and Range
The Atlas Bear was a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). It was relatively small for a brown bear, possessing a stout body, shorter claws, and a small muzzle. Its coat was typically dark brownish-black on the back, often displaying a distinctive reddish-orange fur on its underbelly.
Physical estimates suggest the Atlas Bear could reach a length of up to nine feet and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. While generally considered similar in size to smaller brown bear subspecies, its diet was likely omnivorous. Historical accounts indicate a strong preference for roots, nuts, and acorns. The bear’s geographic range was confined to the mountainous regions of Northwest Africa, primarily inhabiting the Atlas Mountains across modern-day Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Historical Timeline of Decline
The Atlas Bear population began its decline in ancient times with the expansion of the Roman Empire into North Africa around 146 BCE. Roman influence resulted in the intensive hunting and capture of these bears for use in public spectacles, known as venationes. Thousands of bears were shipped from Africa to Roman arenas over centuries, where they were pitted against gladiators, other animals, or used for the execution of criminals. This sustained removal of individuals served as a continuous drain on the bear’s gene pool and population numbers.
While the Roman games ended by the 6th century, the pressure on the bear population did not subside. The species continued to face threats from local tribes, Arab settlers, and European collectors throughout the Middle Ages and subsequent centuries. Its range gradually contracted, pushing the remaining bears higher into isolated, forested mountain regions.
The final, rapid phase of extinction occurred in the 19th century, coinciding with the widespread use of modern firearms. The final documented evidence of the Atlas Bear’s existence is generally cited as occurring in the 1870s. The last known individual is often reported to have been shot by hunters in the Tétouan Mountains of northern Morocco around 1870. The consensus is that the species was functionally eradicated by the late 19th century, placing the Atlas Bear’s extinction around the year 1870.
Key Factors Leading to Extinction
The disappearance of the Atlas Bear was the result of two main causal factors: intensive human predation and the destruction of its natural environment. The bear’s long history of persecution began with the Romans, but it continued through the centuries as local populations hunted the animals for sport, pest control, and collection. The introduction of sophisticated firearms in the late 19th century provided hunters with an unprecedented advantage, making the remaining small, isolated groups highly vulnerable to elimination.
Concurrent with hunting pressure, the bear suffered from widespread habitat loss and fragmentation across its North African range. As human settlements expanded and agricultural practices encroached on the forested mountain slopes, the bear’s available territory shrank dramatically. The natural drying of the climate and the expansion of the desert further reduced the suitable woodland habitat necessary for the bear’s survival and reproduction. This combined impact of hunting and diminishing resources prevented the small, fragmented populations from recovering or sustaining themselves.