An Analysis On The Food Habits Of Asiatic Black Bear And Human-bear Conflicts In Western Himalayas, Pakistan

There is limited research on the distribution, food choices, conflict strategies, and behaviors of the Asiatic black bear(Ursus thibetanus), one of the largest mammals in Pakistan. It is listed as vulnerable by IUCN throughout its habitat. The present study aimed to explore the current conservation status of the species and human–bear conflict in Kaghan Valley, in north-western Pakistan?s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Kaghan Valley residents(70%) confirmed the presence of the black bear with crop raiding, attacks on livestock(n=32), and attacks on humans(n=15) reported. The majority of the respondents(63%) had negative perceptions about bears, while 37% were neutral. Annually, bears were reported to raid approximately 3.8 ha of maize crops in the valley, with most raids occurring in July, August, and September. Field surveys yielded a total of 91 instances of bear sign in the valley, with an average density of 7.3 instances of sign per hectare. The bears preferred habitats with 50%–70% tree crown closure, favored 25°–35o slopes, and were distributed between elevations of1500–3000 m. Vegetation in their habitat ranged from dense forest to scrub lands, with a mixed vegetative cover of pines and broad-leaved tree species.We investigated food habits and altitude distribution of Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus in Kaghan valley, western Himalaya, located in north of Pakistan. We interviewed local villagers(n=180) about consumed food items by black bears and collected their signs(n=178) from different altitudes. Villagers reported the black bear predominantly used forests of Malkandi, Kamalband and Jaraid by visits of agriculture fields located in edge of forests. Oaks(Quercus spp.), guch(Viburnum cotinifolium), mulberry(Morus spp.), fig(Ficu spalmata), pomegranate(Punica granatum), and maize(Zea mays) confirmed by 160( 89%) interviewees as food items for black bears in Kaghan valley. We recovered remains of 21 food items from 53 black bear scats. Dietary analyze showed maize(22.64%), white mulberry(Morus alba, 16.98%), and maples(Acer sp., 11.32%) were the most frequent food items in black bear scats. We recorded shifting on food item selection by black bears in analyzed scats from month to month. Total volume of crops remains in scats was 31.38%, which was more than other major food groups. Asiatic black bear is listed in ’IUCN Red List’ as a ’Vulnerable Species’ and this high volumetric human-related food in their diet is very important to manage of human-bear conflicts in the area by local people and government. Anthropogenic activities, such as hunting, clear cutting forests, developing infrastructure and converting forest into agricultural lands, were ascertained to be the major sources of conflict with Asiatic black bears. Future studies that yield data about individual bears, such as radio tracking, are recommended to provide more information about Asiatic black bear populations, which would facilitate better conservation management planning for this species.