Post by pradyumna on Sept 18, 2013 5:44:07 GMT
INTRODUCTION
Bears are member of the family Ursidae. According to Prater (1948), the family Ursidae’s home is distributed largely in the northern hemisphere, where every region has its characteristic species. The Arctic is the home of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The temperate zone, south of the Arctic, is the typical habitat for brown bear (U. arctos) and the black bear (U. americanus and U. thibetanus). South of the temperate zone, forests of India and south-eastern Asia are the home of two tropical bear species; the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) and the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). One species of bear found only in the southern hemisphere is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), a native of the Andes (Prater 1948).
Sloth bears are the most widespread species of bear in India. They are one of the largest termite-eaters (up to 175 kg) of lowland India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. At least 50% of its diet consists of ants and termites, whereas much of the remainder is fruit (Eisenberg and Lockhart, 1972; Laurie and Seidensticker, 1977; Schaller, 1967). Movements and habitat use of a sloth bear include nocturnal activity, carrying young on the back, and extended parental care. In addition, other myrmecossphagous mammals tend to occupy relatively small home ranges, presumably due to their low metabolic rates and a general abundance of prey (Gittleman and Harvey. 1982). Ants, termites, and fruit are foods associated with low basal metabolic rates in mammals that weigh >100 g, and surely this is expected to be the case in the sloth bear. (McNab B. K. 1992)
Sloth bears are found widely in Indian subcontinent; it is reported in Srilanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The bear lives in a variety of habitat such as Teak forest and Sal forest, low land evergreen forest, hill country and up to elevation of 1700 meter. They are also found in river side forest and tall grass areas on the floodplains of Nepal, and in Bhrahmaputra valley of Assam (Cowan 1972,
Krishnan 1972, Brander 1982). Presently sloth bear occurs commonly and is distributed widely across the tropical forest of the Indian sub continent (Yoganand, et al. 2006). Whereas, in the past, until the early 1800s sloth bear may have occurred in most non-arid, low-altitude forests of India. They were reported to be abundant during mid 1800s, but declined severely due to hunting and habitat loss from late 1800s until the 1950s (Gilbert 1897, Dunbar-Brander 1923, Prater 1948, Phythia-Adams 1950, Krishnan 1972). A similar or accelerated habitat loss continued even after 1950, until about the 1980s, primarily due to conversion of forest for agriculture (FSI 1997). As a result of the continued habitat destruction and degradation, sloth bear populations have declined or become fragmented all over and as a result, they have become locally extirpated in some areas. (Krishnan 1972, Garshelis et al. 1999, Singh 2001). Sloth bears are found occurring in the forest patches where there is sufficient availability of food, and favor places where outcropping of rock and tumbled boulders offer them shelter during the hot weather and the rains.
In India, sloth bear occurs fairly in moist and dry deciduous forest (42% and 33% respectively) and less frequently in wet evergreen (13%) and dry scrub (6%) type of forest (Yoganand, et al. 2006). Sloth bears are reported to exist in 174 protected areas in India, which includes 46 National Parks and 128 Wildlife Sanctuaries (Chauhan, 2006). Whereas in Gujarat sloth bears found to occur mainly in north eastern and central part of the state (Nishith 2009). Except previous research study by our RSG team (Nishith 2009, Ratnayeke and Dharaiya, 2009) and a Ph.D. thesis on bear-human conflicts (Mewada, 2011), very few studies have been carried out on sloth bear in Gujarat.
Out of five protected areas where sloth bear occurs in Gujarat, (Shoolpaneshwar, Jambughoda, Ratanmahel, Jassore and Balaram Ambaji wildlife Sanctuaries) Balaram Ambaji and Jassore wildlife Sanctuaries of Banaskantha forest of the North Gujarat region have reported with the highest sloth bear population which is also reported to have highest densities of sloth bear anywhere in India by Garshelis, et al. 1999, whereas the state’s highest bear population is reported in Vijaynaagr and Dholvanai ranges of
Sabarkantha forest having maximum dry deciduous forest patches with some evergreen patches, according to the latest bear population census (in 2011) by Gujarat forest Department.
Sloth bear population in Gujarat is facing the problem of habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation and high level of anthropogenic pressure due to increasing human population (Cowan 1072, Servheen 1990, Garshelis et al. 1999 and Kemf et al. 1999) and developmental activities (Nishith 2009). The human-animal interaction mostly manifest as conflict rather than being competition. Conflict resolution may influence the survival of a species and therefore has crucial conservation implications. Wildlife management itself, frequently, is about managing these conflicts that occurs at various levels. The study of an animal’s behavior ecology cannot be complete without dealing with the question of how that animal interacts with humans, why it reacts the way it does, and what factors lead to such interactions.
We started the research study in one of the highest bear density districts of North Gujarat (Banaskantha) in 2007, with the financial support from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation, UK which met all the following objectives successfully. In the previous study we,
Studied the status and distribution of bear in Banaskantha,
assessed and documented the nature and frequency of human-bear conflicts
Made the recommendations to minimize human-bear conflicts in study area.
We already completed the study with above objectives in Banaskantha district with significant findings through which we extended our research in the other districts of north Gujarat (i.e. Sabarkantha and Mehsana) through 2nd Grants from Rufford and continued with the following objectives:
To study the status and distribution of sloth bear in Mehsana and Sabarkantha District, where the high population of sloth bears in the state is reported,
To assess the nature and frequency of human bear conflicts in the study area,
To organize the awareness campaign in the forest villages of the area and
To recommend the strategies to minimize conflicts in the study area, that will benefit both people and wildlife.
In the previous study we have found considerable answers which can helps in bear conservation with local participation, which enthused to expand our study in two other districts of north Gujarat, viz. Sabarkantha and Mehsana adjoining to Banaskantha and also possessing good bear population. However the forests in these districts are neither declared as wildlife Sanctuary nor a National Park. According to current population estimation by the forest department Gujarat, the total bear population in the state is reached the figure of 293, out of which around 40% bear population is concentrated in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts (i.e. the North Gujarat), which indicates the systematic and scientific studies on bears and some concrete conservation actions for this bear population. We studied bear distribution in Banaskantha (2009) and the rest of the area is illustrated in the present study. We also aimed to continue the research on mapping bear population and documenting the human-bear conflicts in the state in other areas possessing bear population (Panchmahal and Vadodara) in future to congregate with the goals of IUCN Bear Specialist Group. Figure 1 below depicts the scope of our study in the north eastern parts of the state with high bear population.
Bears are member of the family Ursidae. According to Prater (1948), the family Ursidae’s home is distributed largely in the northern hemisphere, where every region has its characteristic species. The Arctic is the home of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The temperate zone, south of the Arctic, is the typical habitat for brown bear (U. arctos) and the black bear (U. americanus and U. thibetanus). South of the temperate zone, forests of India and south-eastern Asia are the home of two tropical bear species; the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) and the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). One species of bear found only in the southern hemisphere is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), a native of the Andes (Prater 1948).
Sloth bears are the most widespread species of bear in India. They are one of the largest termite-eaters (up to 175 kg) of lowland India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. At least 50% of its diet consists of ants and termites, whereas much of the remainder is fruit (Eisenberg and Lockhart, 1972; Laurie and Seidensticker, 1977; Schaller, 1967). Movements and habitat use of a sloth bear include nocturnal activity, carrying young on the back, and extended parental care. In addition, other myrmecossphagous mammals tend to occupy relatively small home ranges, presumably due to their low metabolic rates and a general abundance of prey (Gittleman and Harvey. 1982). Ants, termites, and fruit are foods associated with low basal metabolic rates in mammals that weigh >100 g, and surely this is expected to be the case in the sloth bear. (McNab B. K. 1992)
Sloth bears are found widely in Indian subcontinent; it is reported in Srilanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The bear lives in a variety of habitat such as Teak forest and Sal forest, low land evergreen forest, hill country and up to elevation of 1700 meter. They are also found in river side forest and tall grass areas on the floodplains of Nepal, and in Bhrahmaputra valley of Assam (Cowan 1972,
Krishnan 1972, Brander 1982). Presently sloth bear occurs commonly and is distributed widely across the tropical forest of the Indian sub continent (Yoganand, et al. 2006). Whereas, in the past, until the early 1800s sloth bear may have occurred in most non-arid, low-altitude forests of India. They were reported to be abundant during mid 1800s, but declined severely due to hunting and habitat loss from late 1800s until the 1950s (Gilbert 1897, Dunbar-Brander 1923, Prater 1948, Phythia-Adams 1950, Krishnan 1972). A similar or accelerated habitat loss continued even after 1950, until about the 1980s, primarily due to conversion of forest for agriculture (FSI 1997). As a result of the continued habitat destruction and degradation, sloth bear populations have declined or become fragmented all over and as a result, they have become locally extirpated in some areas. (Krishnan 1972, Garshelis et al. 1999, Singh 2001). Sloth bears are found occurring in the forest patches where there is sufficient availability of food, and favor places where outcropping of rock and tumbled boulders offer them shelter during the hot weather and the rains.
In India, sloth bear occurs fairly in moist and dry deciduous forest (42% and 33% respectively) and less frequently in wet evergreen (13%) and dry scrub (6%) type of forest (Yoganand, et al. 2006). Sloth bears are reported to exist in 174 protected areas in India, which includes 46 National Parks and 128 Wildlife Sanctuaries (Chauhan, 2006). Whereas in Gujarat sloth bears found to occur mainly in north eastern and central part of the state (Nishith 2009). Except previous research study by our RSG team (Nishith 2009, Ratnayeke and Dharaiya, 2009) and a Ph.D. thesis on bear-human conflicts (Mewada, 2011), very few studies have been carried out on sloth bear in Gujarat.
Out of five protected areas where sloth bear occurs in Gujarat, (Shoolpaneshwar, Jambughoda, Ratanmahel, Jassore and Balaram Ambaji wildlife Sanctuaries) Balaram Ambaji and Jassore wildlife Sanctuaries of Banaskantha forest of the North Gujarat region have reported with the highest sloth bear population which is also reported to have highest densities of sloth bear anywhere in India by Garshelis, et al. 1999, whereas the state’s highest bear population is reported in Vijaynaagr and Dholvanai ranges of
Sabarkantha forest having maximum dry deciduous forest patches with some evergreen patches, according to the latest bear population census (in 2011) by Gujarat forest Department.
Sloth bear population in Gujarat is facing the problem of habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation and high level of anthropogenic pressure due to increasing human population (Cowan 1072, Servheen 1990, Garshelis et al. 1999 and Kemf et al. 1999) and developmental activities (Nishith 2009). The human-animal interaction mostly manifest as conflict rather than being competition. Conflict resolution may influence the survival of a species and therefore has crucial conservation implications. Wildlife management itself, frequently, is about managing these conflicts that occurs at various levels. The study of an animal’s behavior ecology cannot be complete without dealing with the question of how that animal interacts with humans, why it reacts the way it does, and what factors lead to such interactions.
We started the research study in one of the highest bear density districts of North Gujarat (Banaskantha) in 2007, with the financial support from the Rufford Small Grants Foundation, UK which met all the following objectives successfully. In the previous study we,
Studied the status and distribution of bear in Banaskantha,
assessed and documented the nature and frequency of human-bear conflicts
Made the recommendations to minimize human-bear conflicts in study area.
We already completed the study with above objectives in Banaskantha district with significant findings through which we extended our research in the other districts of north Gujarat (i.e. Sabarkantha and Mehsana) through 2nd Grants from Rufford and continued with the following objectives:
To study the status and distribution of sloth bear in Mehsana and Sabarkantha District, where the high population of sloth bears in the state is reported,
To assess the nature and frequency of human bear conflicts in the study area,
To organize the awareness campaign in the forest villages of the area and
To recommend the strategies to minimize conflicts in the study area, that will benefit both people and wildlife.
In the previous study we have found considerable answers which can helps in bear conservation with local participation, which enthused to expand our study in two other districts of north Gujarat, viz. Sabarkantha and Mehsana adjoining to Banaskantha and also possessing good bear population. However the forests in these districts are neither declared as wildlife Sanctuary nor a National Park. According to current population estimation by the forest department Gujarat, the total bear population in the state is reached the figure of 293, out of which around 40% bear population is concentrated in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts (i.e. the North Gujarat), which indicates the systematic and scientific studies on bears and some concrete conservation actions for this bear population. We studied bear distribution in Banaskantha (2009) and the rest of the area is illustrated in the present study. We also aimed to continue the research on mapping bear population and documenting the human-bear conflicts in the state in other areas possessing bear population (Panchmahal and Vadodara) in future to congregate with the goals of IUCN Bear Specialist Group. Figure 1 below depicts the scope of our study in the north eastern parts of the state with high bear population.
