Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan

We assessed the human-bear interactions and distribution patterns of the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) in Bhutan through a questionnaire survey of park residents and by remote camera trapping. Our study revealed 26% (N = 311) of the respondents e...

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Main Authors: Letro Letro, Sangay Wangchuk, Tashi Dhendup
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Fund for Support and Development of Protected Areas "Bear Land" 2020-01-01
Series:Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ncr-journal.bear-land.org/article/249
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author Letro Letro
Sangay Wangchuk
Tashi Dhendup
author_facet Letro Letro
Sangay Wangchuk
Tashi Dhendup
author_sort Letro Letro
collection DOAJ
description We assessed the human-bear interactions and distribution patterns of the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) in Bhutan through a questionnaire survey of park residents and by remote camera trapping. Our study revealed 26% (N = 311) of the respondents experiencing one or another form of human-bear interaction. Crop damage accounted for the highest interaction rate at 65%, followed by livestock depredation (25%), between 2012 and 2016. About 10% of the interactions involved human mualing cases in 2006–2016. About 80% of the respondents expressed support for bear conservation influenced mainly by conservation awareness programmes. Observations from 39 camera trap stations across the national park indicated a wide distribution of Asiatic black bears in JSWNP, with a mean site use probability of 0.55 (SE = 0.10, N = 39). With emerging perceived threats such as habitat fragmentation and loss, retaliatory killing, and poaching, it is recommended that the national park management adopt conservation measures that will enable a harmonious coexistence between humans and bears. Habitat enrichment with natural food resources for the bear, equipping communities with conflict preventive measures, and advocating local people on bear conservation are some of the measures that need to be adopted in the national park.
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spelling doaj.art-4a7bafc1081849f89e8a92a9d46399e72022-12-22T00:28:48ZengFund for Support and Development of Protected Areas "Bear Land"Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука2500-008X2500-008X2020-01-0151445210.24189/ncr.2020.004Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, BhutanLetro Letro0Sangay Wangchuk1Tashi Dhendup2Department of Forest and Park Services; University of GreifswaldUgyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research; Charles Sturt UniversityUgyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research; University of MontanaWe assessed the human-bear interactions and distribution patterns of the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) in Bhutan through a questionnaire survey of park residents and by remote camera trapping. Our study revealed 26% (N = 311) of the respondents experiencing one or another form of human-bear interaction. Crop damage accounted for the highest interaction rate at 65%, followed by livestock depredation (25%), between 2012 and 2016. About 10% of the interactions involved human mualing cases in 2006–2016. About 80% of the respondents expressed support for bear conservation influenced mainly by conservation awareness programmes. Observations from 39 camera trap stations across the national park indicated a wide distribution of Asiatic black bears in JSWNP, with a mean site use probability of 0.55 (SE = 0.10, N = 39). With emerging perceived threats such as habitat fragmentation and loss, retaliatory killing, and poaching, it is recommended that the national park management adopt conservation measures that will enable a harmonious coexistence between humans and bears. Habitat enrichment with natural food resources for the bear, equipping communities with conflict preventive measures, and advocating local people on bear conservation are some of the measures that need to be adopted in the national park.http://ncr-journal.bear-land.org/article/249himalayan black bearhuman-wildlife conflictprotected areaspecies conservationursidaeursus thibetanus
spellingShingle Letro Letro
Sangay Wangchuk
Tashi Dhendup
Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука
himalayan black bear
human-wildlife conflict
protected area
species conservation
ursidae
ursus thibetanus
title Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
title_full Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
title_fullStr Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
title_full_unstemmed Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
title_short Distribution of Asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Bhutan
title_sort distribution of asiatic black bear and its interaction with humans in jigme singye wangchuck national park bhutan
topic himalayan black bear
human-wildlife conflict
protected area
species conservation
ursidae
ursus thibetanus
url http://ncr-journal.bear-land.org/article/249
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