Abstract 998 – Conservation Implications of the Reintroduction of Two Confiscated Himalayan Brown Bears in Pakistan

Fakhar-i-Abbas

Some cultural practices, such as dancing bears in India and bear-baiting in Pakistan, typically
using wild-caught bears, have contributed to population declines. Successful conservation
programs have focused on eliminating the acceptability of these practices, targeting non-
compliant individuals, and confiscating captive bears. In such a program in Pakistan, some
confiscated bear cubs (both Asiatic black bears and brown bears) were deemed potentially
suitable for release. This project involved the “Act” component of the Species Conservation
Cycle, with repatriation of young rescued bears intended to improve conservation status by (1)
motivating more confiscations, and (2) helping restore some depleted wild populations. During
this program, aimed at ending bear baiting in Pakistan, two confiscated female Himalayan
brown bear cubs (rescued at ~2 months old) were considered suitable for reintroduction. They
were kept for 2 years, following a low-human contact protocol to prepare for a hard-release. In
2017, at the age of 26 months, the two females were released in Khunjerab National Park, a
remote area bordering China, with considerable media attention. The selection of a release site
was based on GIS-modeled habitat availability at a location between known brown bear
populations, but with no resident bears. The released bears were tracked by resightings made
possible by the open habitat in the region, and by identifiable physical markings (unlike
previous releases of Asiatic black bears, which were harder to see and identify). After their
initial release in the Uxcel valley at an elevation of 4500 m, they moved 20 – 70 km each year to
different valleys, but generally favored ~4700 m elevation. Over 7 years of monitoring, they
ultimately settled in a valley surrounded by snow-covered mountains and glaciers, but still with
no other brown bears. Visible weight gain over these years indicated sustained health. The
bears' experimental movements in diverse terrain emphasizes their resilience and adaptability,
as well as the importance of selecting sites with room to roam. The project appears successful
at this stage, but true success will be determined over time as we wait to see if the females
eventually reproduce.