Abstract 65 – Resource sharing between human and sloth bear in non-protected forests: A prime reason for human-sloth bear conflicts

Pratikkumar Desai and Nishith Dharaiya

Sloth bear is considered among the most unpredictable large mammal and on an encounter, in
an attempt of self-defence attacks on humans. People living in and around the forest, share
resources with sloth bear which often resulting into conflicts and causing human casualties. A
rise in anthropogenic activities in the non-protected forests has led to degradation of habitat,
reduced forest cover and food broadly supporting our finding that most of the sloth bear
attacks are due to penetration of sloth bears in human dominated areas for food and water. A
total of 234 incidents of sloth bear attacks in last twelve years (2008-2020) from central Gujarat
were recorded. Out of these, more than 80% of attacks caused minor injuries suggesting the
attacks were in response to attempt of self-defence by a bear. The analysis of data reveals
three key reasons for the sloth bear attacks: sharing of resources, fragmented bear habitat and
bear movement near the village. However, the highest conflict occurred due to resource
sharing (47%) followed by fragmentation (33%) and movement of sloth bear near villages
(20%). We found that the conflicts are more significant due to resource sharing compare to
habitat fragmentation and sloth bear movement. Most of these areas are used by local people
for common resources, as they are depended on the forest products and water being a limiting
factor in summer forcing the bear to visit the villages. Chi2 test shows significant difference
between these groups (X2=10.96; df=4; p=0.027). A thorough study of spatio-temporal overlap
between locals and bears helps to identify the areas for regulating human activities to reduce
the sloth bear encounter. Creating the water accumulation points inside the forest area can
also help regulating bear movement in the summer. Maintaining the remaining forest cover and
restricting anthropogenic pressure may enhance the harmonious living with the neighbouring
sloth bears in this important sloth bear corridor.