A Thai zoo held a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the successful breeding of a 'vulnerable' Asian black bear in captivity.

The Khon Kaen Zoo prepared a feast of fresh fruits and vegetables to welcome the bear cub 'Ang Pao', who was born on January 22 during the Chinese New Year Festival in Thailand.

The three-month-old baby bear was born to parents Tang Thai and Tangmo, both 24.

Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy said that Khon Kaen Zoo has four male and four female bears, adding Ang Pao's sex could not be identified at the moment.

He said: 'The birth of Ang Pao was very good news because the wild Asian black bear population is decreasing and they are nearly endangered.

'Ang Pao is being taken care of by its mother Tang Mo and the veterinary team closely, and will be put in the exhibition area soon.'

The Asian black bear is the largest bear in Thailand, with heights ranging from four to six feet.

Adult males typically weigh between 100 to 200 kilograms, while females weigh between 50 to 125 kilograms.

They have rough black or brown fur on their bodies, with a light yellow V-shaped marking on their chest. When they walk, they do so fully on their feet, which have long and sharp claws.

The Asian black bear is a protected species under Thailand's Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act.

It is classified as 'vulnerable' under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which cites habitat loss due to human encroachment, and poaching as threats to its population.