STATUSAND MANAGEMENTOF ASIATICBLACK BEAR AND HIMALAYAN BROWNBEAR IN INDIA
SAMBANDAMSATHYAKUMAR, Wildlife Institute of India,Post Box #18, Chandrabani,Dehra Dun 248 001, India,email: [email protected]
Abstract: I review the currentstatus of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)and Himalayanbrown bear (Ursus arctos) in Indiabased on a question- naire, interviews, and a literaturesurvey. The Himalayanregion and the hills of northeasternIndia probablysupport one of the largestpopulations of Asiatic black bear in Asia. Asiatic black bears live in forestedmountain habitats (1,200-3,300 m) in the states of Jammuand Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh,Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Mizoram,Meghalaya, and Tripura.Asiatic black bearswere reportedto occur in 53 protectedareas (PAs) and in 62 otherlocalities, but theirpopulation status is not known. The potentialrange of Asiatic black bearhabitat in Indiais estimatedto be about 14,500 km2,of which <5% is in PAs. Asiatic black bear numbersare decreasingin many areas due to (1) large-scalehabitat degradation,(2) poaching for gall bladder and skins, and (3) control to reduce crop depredation. Very little informationexists on the relative abundanceof Himalayanbrown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus)in India.The Himalayanbrown bear occurs in very low densities in the subalpineand alpine regions (>3,300 m) of the Greaterand Trans-Himalayanregions in India and has been reportedin the states of Jammuand Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh,and Uttaranchal.They are reportedto occur in 23 PAs and in 18 otherlocalities. Theirpotential habitat range in Indiais estimatedat 4,300 km2,of which very little is protected.Questionnaire results indicate that therehas been a marginaldecline in Asiatic black bear relative abundance, but informationfor brown bear is insufficient to elucidate a trend. The long-term conservationof both species in India depends on adequately protectingthe species and theirhabitats, reducing habitat degradation, strictly controlling poaching and illegal tradeof gall bladderand skin, and in reducingbear-human conflicts.
Ursus 12:21-30
Key words: Asiatic black bear, conservation status, distribution,Himalaya, Himalayanbrown bear, protected areas, relative abundance, Ursus arctos, Ursus thibetanus
Of the 8 species of bears in the world, 4 occur in India: Himalayas,the Himalayanbrown bear is reportedto oc- the sloth bear (Melursusursinus), the Asiatic black bear, cur in the subalpineforests. Himalayan brown bear, and the sun bear (Helarctos This paperreviews the distributionand relative abun- malayanus). In Servheen's (1990) review of the status danceof the Asiaticblack bear and Himalayan brown bear and conservationof the bearsof the world,he found scant in India. Results arebased on a review of availablelitera- informationon Asiatic black bear and Himalayanbrown ture, a questionnaire,and interviews with scientists, re- bear in India. Even basic informationsuch as presence searchers,forest and wildlife managers,and staff of the and absence does not exist for many areasin the distribu- Forest Departmentsin northernand northeasternIndia. tional range of these species in India. The Asiatic black bearhas been reportedto be continu- ously distributedthrough southern and easternAsia from METHODS westwardthrough Pakistan and Afghanistan to Baluchistan In 1994, a questionnairewas developed and sent to sci- Province of Iran; east to Indo-China through much of entists andland managerswho were then workingor who China, Korea, and Japan,with an isolated populationin had worked for at least 2 years in the range of Asiatic Taiwan (Cowan 1970, Servheen 1990, Mallon 1991). blackbear, the Himalayanbrown bear, or both. The ques- Schaller (1977) reporteda wide distributionfor Asiatic tionnairerequested details on: bear sightings or sign (fe- blackbear from Russia and Korea to Indo-Chinaand from ces, feeding or resting signs, tracks)in differentlocalities the forests of the Himalayasbelow an altitudeof 3,750 m (National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary,Biosphere Reserve, west as far as Afghanistanand Iran. The Himalayanre- Forest Division); relative abundanceof bears (very rare, gion andthe hills of northeasternIndia cover 591,800 km2 rare, fairly common, common, or abundant);past and (18%) of India (G.B. Pant Institutefor HimalayanEnvi- presentrelative abundance; population and habitat threats ronment and Development 1993) and probably support and their extent and magnitude;bear-human conflicts; one of the largestpopulations of Asiatic black bear. conservationand management;and the season or month The Asian range of brown bear extends from Turkey, and the durationof time spent by the respondentin bear Iran,and Afghanistan to Pakistanand along the Himalayas habitat. of India, Nepal, and Bhutan,then northand east through Two copies of the questionnaire,one for Asiatic black the mountainsof centralAsia, Tibet,northern China, and bear and one for Himalayanbrown bear, were sent to 55 Mongoliato Russia. The Himalayanbrown bear is largely scientists and land managers, of which 39 (71%) were confinedto the rollinguplands and alpine meadows above returned. All returnedquestionnaires provided some in- timberline, ecologically separatedfrom forest dwelling formationon Asiatic black bear,but only 20% contained black bear (Schaller 1977). But in the northwestern informationon brownbear. Informal interviews were held 22 Ursus 12:2001 with 23 scientists and land managersto validate and en- chards,cultivated areas, scrublands,and even villages to hance the availableinformation. Information on the rela- move between forestedareas. Thereare few estimatesof tive abundance of both species in PAs was regularly Asiatic black bear populationsor densities in India. updated whenever additionalknowledge became avail- Muchinformation on the distributionand relative abun- able. An approximatedistribution map for both species dance of Asiatic black bear in India is from the network was preparedby mappingthe upperand lower altitudinal of protected areas (PA), major valleys and catchments, limits of the species' occurrenceand later refined from ReservedForests (RF), and ForestDivisions (FD) (Table questionnaireinformation. 1). This informationis summarizedbelow by state. Jammuand Kashmir.-The best known populationsof Asiatic blackbear in Indiaare in this state. The Dachigam RESULTS National Park (NP), Overa Wildlife Sanctuary (WS), Overa-AruWS, Limber-LachiporaWS, and KistwarNP AsiaticBlack Bear: Distribution and have an Asiatic black bear population. Survey respon- RelativeAbundance dents also reportedAsiatic black bears in Pahalgamand In India, the Asiatic black bear inhabits forested hills Pinjore Punjab FD, Naranag-Wangat FD, and Tral, rangingfrom 1,200 m to 3,300 m (Prater1980). Its range Shikargarh,Shar, and Dakrum areas in IslamabadDis- overlapswith thatof the sloth bearbelow 1,200 m andthe trict. Himalayanbrown bear above 3,000 m. The Asiatic black Saberwal (1989) reportedAsiatic black bear density bearis distributedthroughout the Himalayanranges (Fig. estimates of 1.3-1.8 bears/km2in Lower Dachigam dur- 1) in the northwest (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal ing high fruit abundance. Encounterrates ranged from 0 Pradesh),west (HimachalPradesh and Uttaranchal),cen- to 3.5 bears/kmwalked. Twenty-five to 40 bears were tral (Sikkim and northern West Bengal) and east estimatedto use LowerDachigam in earlySeptember, and (ArunachalPradesh). The species is also presentin some probablylate June throughOctober (times of high fruit hills of other northeasternstates of India. Asiatic black abundance). Manjrekar(1989) had >250 Asiatic black bear distributionin the Indiansubcontinent is contiguous bearsightings in 140 days of studyin DachigamNP. The with Nepal (eastwardfrom Uttaranchalto Sikkim) and total Asiatic black bearpopulation for Dachigammay be Bhutan(eastward from Sikkim to ArunachalPradesh). about 50 (A.J.T. Johnsingh,Wildlife Institute of India, At present,the Asiatic black bear is continuouslydis- DehraDun, Uttaranchal,India, personal communication, tributedin North India, all along the Himalayasand hills 1995). Schaller (1977) reportedthat Asiatic black bears of northeasternIndia between 1,200m and 3,300m. This were abundantin Dachigam in 1969. According to J.V. is largely due to the black bear's use of plantations,or- Gruisen (TRAFFIC-India,New Delhi, India, personal
N D I areas of black of bear 1999. Fig. 1 Approximate distribution of Asiatic black bear in India and protected populations, BEARSIN INDIA * Sathyakumar 23 communication,1995), at least 7 Asiaticblack bears could ported by survey respondentsto be "fairlycommon" in be sighted in a day in Dachigam NPduring 1981-1982. GreatHimalayan NP, RupiBhaba WS, TundahWS, Kugti The relativeabundance of Asiatic blackbear in Dachigam WS, DharangatiWS, SanglaWS, KanawarWS, Kalatop- at presentis not known, but the NP has been unprotected KhajjiarWS, and Kais WS. for several years. Outside of PAs, Asiatic black bears occur in the for- In OveraWS, based on yearly spring and summerob- ested areas of Pangi (Chenabcatchment) and Bharmaur servationsfrom 1985 to 1991, T. Price (Universityof San valleys (Ravi catchmentin ChambaDistrict; Dhaula Dhar Diego, California,USA, personalcommunication, 1995) range (Beas catchment),Bara Bangal, ChotaBangal, and reportedthat the Asiatic black bearpopulation seemed to Bir in KangraDistrict; Parbati Valley, Pandrabis, Bashleo be decreasingbecause females with cubs were sighted in Pass (Sutlej catchment),and Solang and Jagatsukhval- 1985-86, no cubs were sighted during 1987-90, and he leys in Kullu District;upper catchments of Bata and Giri saw no bears in 1991. It appearsthat they were breeding in Solan and Shimla Districts; catchmentsof Sutlej and well in 1985-87 and may not have bred in 1988-91. Yamuna, Pandrabis, Shimla ridge, Karsog, Shali, Though the Asiatic black bear is reportedto occur in Kandyali,Hatu, and Moral Kanda areas in Simla District; KistwarNP, its relative abundanceis not known. In other and the Ropa valley, and Kalpa and Kaksthal areas in PAs and FDs, Asiatic black bear populations are either KinnaurDistrict (S. Pandey,Wildlife Instituteof India, decreasing or informationon their relative status is not DehraDun, Uttaranchal,India, personal communication, available. 1995). Himachal Pradesh.-Asiatic black beas in Himachal Asiatic black bears were reportedto be "common"in Pradeshare presentin and near21 PAs (singh et al. 1990, the forested areas of Dhaula Dhar range, Chota Bangal, Gaston and Garson 1992, Green 1993). They were re- ParbatiValley, Bashleo Pass, and Kalpa areas. The spe-
Table 1. Asiatic black bear populations and their past and 1999 relative abundance in Indian protected areas based on questionnaire responses and interviews. State Relativeabundance
Protectedareaa (Area) Past (year) Recent(year) 1999 Jammuand Kashmir DachigamNP (141 km2) abundant(1969) unknown(1995) common KistwarNP (400 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown Limber-LachiporaWS (106 km2) fairlycommon (1986) unknown(1994) unknown OveraWS and Overa-AruWS (457 km2) very common(1990) fairlycommon (1991) unknown HimachalPradesh BandliWS (41 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown ChailWS (46 km2) unknown unknown(1995) fairlycommon ChurdarWS (56 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown DaranghatiWS (42 km2) unknown fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon GamgulSiahbehi WS (109 km2) rare(1991) unknown(1994) unknown Great HimalayanNP (620 km2) unknown fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon Kais WS (14 km2) fairlycommon (?) fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon Kalatop-KhajjiarWS (69 km2) rare(1991) fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon KanawarWS (54 km2) fairlycommon fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon KhokhanWS (14 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown KugtiWS (379 km2) fairlycommon (1992) fairlycommon (1993) common LippaAsrang WS (31 km2) unknown common(1993) common WS Majhatal (92 km2) unknown unknown(1995) fairlycommon ManaliWS (30 km2) common(1987) rare(1991) rare NarguWS (278 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown RupiBhaba WS (125 km2) very common(1992) common(1994) common SanglaWS (650 km2) common(?) very common(1994) common Sechu TuanNala WS (103 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown ShikariDevi WS (214 km2) unknown rare(1994) rare TalraWS (26 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown TundahWS (64 km2) common(1992) very common(1993) very common Uttaranchal Askot WS (600 km2) fairlycommonrare (1994) rare CorbettNP (521 km2) unknown rare(1993) rare GovindWS (953 km2) fairlycommon (1992) rare KedamathWS (975 km2) fairlycommon (1981) fairlycommon (1994) common NandaDevi BR fairly (2,237 km2) fairlycommon (1983) fairlycommon (1993) fairlycommon of FlowersNP unknown~~~~~~~fairly common(95 arycmo Valley (88 km2) unknown fairlycommon (1995) fairlycommon 24 Ursus 12:2001
Table 1. (continued) State Relativeabundance
Protectedareaa (Area) Past (year) Recent(year) 1999 West Bengal Buxa TR (759 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare NeoraNP (88 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common MahanandaWS (39 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown SingalilaNP (78 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare Sikkim FambongWSb(51 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown KhangchendzongaNP (1,784 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common PangolaNPb (108 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common ArunachalPradesh DibangValley WS and NPb(4,149 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common Eagle'sNest WS (217 kmn2) unknown unknown(1995) common MehaoWS (282 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common MoulingNP (483 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common NamdaphaNP (1,985 km2) rare(1990) rare(1996) rare PakhuiWS and NPb(852 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common PalinWSb (250 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common Sessa OrchidWS (100 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common Tale Valley WS (25 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown TawangWSb and NPb(300 km2) unknown unknown(1995) very common WalongWSb and NPb (300 km2) unknown unknown(1995) very common Meghalaya BalphakramNP (220 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare NokrekBR (80 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown NongkhyllemWS (29 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare Mizoram DampaWS andNPb (580 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare NgenpuiWS (150 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare Tripura Rowa WS (1 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown TishnaWS (195 km2) unknown unknown(1995) common aWS: Wildlife Sanctuary;NP: National Park;BR: BiosphereReserve; TR: Tiger Reserve bProposedPA. cies was once abundantin ShimlaRidge andMoral Kanda catchmentsof Ram Ganga, LadhiyaValley, and in parts but has become very rare in the recent past (S. Pandey, of PithoragarhDistrict. The species has been reported Wildlife Instituteof India, Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal,In- from Corbett NP (J.V. Gruisen, TRAFFIC-India,New dia, personal communication,1995). Questionnairere- Delhi, India,personal communication,1995) and along the spondentsreported it to be "rare"or becoming rarerin RiverGanges in Chilla,Rajaji NP (A.J.T.Johnsingh, Wild- PAs such as Shikari Devi WS, and Manali WS, and its life Instituteof India, Dehra Dun, India, personal com- relativeabundance is not known in the rest of the PAs and munication,1995). Asiatic black bears were reportedto other areas. be common in and near Nanda Devi BR (Lamba 1987, Uttaranchal.-Asiatic black bears are present in and Tewari 1993 unpublishedreport), Kedarnath WS (Green nearPAs such as NandaDevi NP and BiosphereReserve 1985, Sathyakumar1994), and Valley of Flowers NP (BR; S. Sathyakumar,1993, Statusof mammalsin Nanda (Tewari 1993 unpublishedreport). Devi NationalPark, Wildlife Institute of India,Dehra Dun, WestBengal and Sikkim.-Rodgers andPanwar (1988) Uttaranchal,India), and KedarnathWS, (Sathyakumar define the centralHimalayan region in India as northern 1994), Valley of Flowers NP (R.C. Tewari, 1993, Black West Bengal and Sikkim. Survey respondentsreported bear depredationproblems in Chamoli Garhwal, Uttar Asiatic black bear in the forested areas of Darjeeling, PradeshForest Department, Gopeshwar, Uttaranchal, In- KalimpongHills, and in and near 4 PAs in West Bengal: dia), GovindWS (unpublisheddata 1992), andAskot WS Buxa TR, Singalila NP, Neora NP, and MahanandaWS. (G.S. Rawat and S. Sathyakumar,1998, Status of mam- In Sikkim, the Asiatic black bear is present in mals, birds and their habitats in Panchchuli Region, KanchendzongaNP, Pangola NP, Tolung WS, Yaksom, KumaunHimalaya, Wildlife Institute of India,Dehra Dun, Rathong Valley, Lepcha Reserve, and in suitable undis- Uttaranchal,India). The Asiaticblack bear is also reported turbedforested areas between 1,200 and 3,000 m eleva- from Yamunotriand Gangotrivalleys, forested areas in tion. Of these, Dzongiri,Pangola, and Lepcha areas have andaround Mussourie, Chakrata, Uttar Kashi, Tehri, Bura Asiaticblack bear in higherrelative abundance (G. Tiwari, Kedar, Bageshwar, Dharamghar,and Binsar, the upper New Delhi, India, personalcommunication 1995). BEARS IN INDIA * Sathyakumar 25
ArunachalPradesh.-With >80% of its areaunder for- in the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintiahills. It is also reportedto est cover, ArunachalPradesh has a nearlycontinuous dis- be presentin NongkhyllemWS, SaipungRF, and Narpah tributionof Asiatic blackbear, but thereare seriousthreats RF areas. Asiatic black bear populationsin this state are from hunting and poaching. This species is reportedto seriously threateneddue to poaching and the shortening be present in suitable undisturbedhabitats throughout ofjhumming(shifting cultivation)cycles (A.C. Williams, ArunachalPradesh, but this state has yet to be scientifi- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, India, personal cally explored. communication,1996). The Asiatic black bear is reportedto be present in 14 Accordingto respondents,the hill rangesin Tripurahold PAs in this state. Its presence has been confirmedin and small scatteredpopulations of Asiatic black bear due to near PAs such as Mehao WS (Katti et al. 1990), Dibang the contiguity of hill ranges of Mizoram. Respondents Valley WS, Eagle's Nest WS, TaleValley WS, Namdapha also indicatedthat it is presentin KailashaharFD, Manu, NP, and in Hot Spring, Ditchu (Lohit District), Tale Val- KanchanpurFD, LongthoraiRF, and Deo RF and prob- ley, Anini Social FD, Mayodia Pass, and Siang (P. Singh, ably present in TrishnaWS and Rowa WS. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, India, personal HimalayanBrown Bear: Distribution and communication,1996). It is very likely that PAs such as Status PakhuiWS, Sessa OrchidWS, Walong WS and NP, and The Himalayanbrown bear occurs in very low densi- the proposedPalin WS have Asiatic black bear due to ties in the subalpineand alpine regions (3,000-5,000 m) heir border with PAs or forested areas in reportedbear in the GreaterHimalayas and in some parts of trans-Hi- range. Informationon the relative abundanceof this spe- malayan regions in India. Populations of Himalayan cies in this state in the past and present is not available. brown bear are largely confined to the northwesternand However, hunting pressure from indigenous people and westernHimalayan ranges in India (Fig. 2) and are repre- extensive habitat degradation are serious concerns at sented in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal present. Pradesh,and Uttaranchal. Very little informationexists Mizoram,Meghalaya, and Tripura.-The Asiatic black on the past and presentrelative abundanceof Himalayan bear distributionextends into Mizoram, Meghalaya, and brown bear in India (Table 2). Tripura and may also occur in the adjacent states of Jammu and Kashmir.-Dachigam NP, Overa WS, Manipurand Nagaland,although there are as yet no con- Overa-AruWS, Limber-LachiporaWS, and KistwarNP firmed records. In Mizoram, Asiatic black bears are have populationsof Himalayanbrown bear (Green 1993). present in Dampa WS (Green 1993), and were reported It is also reportedto occur in suitable undisturbedalpine as present in Murlen NP and WS and in suitable undis- areas of this state and in a few areas north of the main turbedforested areas in the Mizo Hills. In Meghalaya,it Himalayanrange (trans-Himalaya)such as Zanskarval- is present in and around BalphakramNP, Nokrek BR ley (Mallon 1991; S.P. Sinha, Wildlife Instituteof India, (Green 1993) and in suitable undisturbedforested areas Dehra Dun, India, personal communication,1995).
Fig. 2. Approximate distribution map of the Himalayan brown bear in India and protected areas with brown bear populations, 1999. 26 Ursus 12:2001
Table 2. Protected Areas in Indiawith Himalayanbrown bear populations and their past and 1999 relative abundance. State Relativeabundance Protectedareaa (Area) Past (year) Recent(year) 1999 Jammuand Kashmir DachigamNP (141 km2) rare(1989) unknown(1995) rare KistwarNP (400 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown Limber-LachiporaWS (106 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown OveraWS and Overa-AruWS (457 km2) rare(1991) unknown(1995) unknown HimachalPradesh DaranghatiWS (42 km2) unknown fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon GamgulSiahbehi WS (109 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown GreatHimalayan NP (620 km2) fairlycommon (?) rare(1998) rare Kais WS (14 km2) fairlycommon (?) fairlycommon (1994) fairlycommon Kalatop-KhajjiarWS (69 km2) unknown unknown(1994) rare KanawarWS (54 km2) rare(?) rare(1994) rare KugtiWS (379 km2) fairlycommon (1992) common(1993) common LippaAsrang WS (31 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown SanglaWS (650 kn2) rare(?) rare(1994) rare RupiBhaba WS (125 km2) rare(?) rare(1994) rare SechuTuan Nala WS (103 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown TalraWS (26 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown TundahWS (64 km2) fairlycommon (1992) fairlycommon (1993) fairlycommon Uttaranchal Askot WS (600 km2) unknown unknown(1995) rare GovindWS (953 km2) rare(1988) rare(1992) rare KedamathWS (975 km2) unknown(1981) rare(1991) rare NandaDevi BR (2,237 km2) rare(1983) unknown(1993) unknown Valley of FlowersNP (88 km2) unknown unknown(1995) unknown Sikkim KhangchendzongaNP (1784 km2)b unknown unknown unknown aWS: Wildlife Sanctuary;N: National Park;TR: Tiger Reserve bUrsusarctos pruinosus
Himachal Pradesh.-The Himalayan brown bear is NP and in suitableundisturbed alpine areas in Sikkim(G. presentin 13 PAs in HimachalPradesh (Singh et al. 1990, Tiwari,New Delhi, India,personal communication, 1995). Green 1993) and in some watershedsoutside PAs. Sur- This subspeciesis also reportedin easternTibet andparts vey respondentsreported it to be "fairlycommon" in Great of northernChina, eastern Nepal, and Mongolia (Gee HimalayanNP, Kais WS, TundahWS, and Kugti WS. It 1967; D. Mallon, Derbyshire,United Kingdom,personal is "rare"in PAs such as KanawarWS, Sangla WS, and communication,2000). Rupi Bhaba WS. Outsideof PAs,respondents reported Himalayan brown bearsto occurin MalanaValley, Hamta Pass, Solang Val- DISCUSSION ley, Bara Bangal, ParbatiValley, Ropa Valley, Kaksthal, Manali, Pooh and Lingti, and Ensa valleys (Lahul and ConservationProblems Spiti). It is reportedto be "fairlycommon" in BaraBangal, Population Threats.-Respondents reportedthat Asi- Ropa (KinnaurDistrict), and Ensa (in Spiti) valleys. atic black bearpopulations in Indiaare largelythreatened Uttaranchal.-The Himalayanbrown bear populations due to poaching for gall bladderand skins . While the in Uttaranchalare presentin and nearPAs such as Nanda formeris believed to be of medicinal value, the latter is Devi NP and BR (Lamba 1987), Kedarnath WS for trophyor ornamentalpurposes. Many Chinese medi- (Sathyakumar1994; J. Ram,Kumaun University, Almora, cine texts recommendAsiatic black bear and brownbear India,personal communication, 1992), Valley of Flowers of Asia as source for medicinalbile. Althoughbears are NP, Govind WS, Askot WS, and in alpine regions of protectedin India, it has usually been difficult to pros- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, Mana, Almora, and ecute the accused in poaching cases because of lack of Pithoragarh.Himalayan brown bears are rare in Kedarnath primafacie evidence in the courts. Moreover,poaching WS (Sathyakumar1994); their relative abundance in other and subsequentillegal tradeacross internationalborders areasis not known. is thought to be widespread. India has long boundaries Sikkim.-The brownbear, possibly U. a. pruinosus,is with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and reportedas presentin the upperreaches of Kanchendzonga Myanmar,much in remote, rugged mountainousterrain. BEARSIN INDIA Sathyakumar 27
Thus, it is difficult to police the bordersto control cross- paid by the governmentfor damagesto humansand live- bordertrade. stock by wildlife, leading to an increasein the proportion Growingdemand for bear productsin Asia have led to of incidentsreported. Any increasein black bearpopula- serious impacts on bear populationsin India. According tions in the recent past is very unlikely, with the excep- to the Conventionon InternationalTrade in Endangered tion of a very few undisturbedareas. Species of Wild Floraand Fauna(CITES), between 1975 Habitat Threats.-The potentialAsiatic black bearand and 1993 about 1,307 kg of bear gall bladder were re- Himalayanbrown bear habitatin India is estimatedto be ported in internationalmarkets along with 11,667 kg, about 14,500 km2and 4,300 km2,respectively, of which, 44,219 units, 750 cartons,and 500 boxes of bear deriva- in both cases, <5% is protected under the existing PAs tives (Mills et al. 1995). For the same period,about 4,136 (National Wildlife Database,Wildlife Instituteof India, kg of gall bladder was also reportedfrom Republic of Dehra Dun, India, 1998). ThroughoutIndia, there are Korea,representing another 68,933 bears (at 60 gramsof majorthreats to Asiatic black bear and Himalayanbrown bile/bear) killed for trade. The retail price of bear gall bearhabitats. In Jammuand Kashmir,the political unrest bladderin California,USA, is about US $1,200-2,000/ and associated activity prevent effective habitatprotec- gm, and it is up to US $500/gm in South Korea (Mills et tion. In HimachalPradesh and Uttaranchal,habitat deg- al. 1995). radationis largelya resultof humandependency on forests In ArunachalPradesh and the northeasternstates, in- for fuelwood and fodder,as well as the extractionof other digenouspeople huntblack bear for its skin. For example, forest products such as montane bamboo (Arundinaria the "Nishi"indigenous people wear bear skin on the back falcata, Chimnobambusajaunsarensis, Thamnocalamus of their neck and use them in making dao (knife holder). falconeri, T spathiflorus), and on alpine meadows for Hutsof indigenouspeople oftendisplay wild animalskulls medicinal plant collection and extensive livestock graz- and skins, including many from Asiatic black bear. ing. In ArunachalPradesh and Sikkim, habitat loss is Himalayanbrown bears in India are threatenedlargely mainly due to development activities. In the northeast due to poachingto reducepredation on livestock. Migra- states, jhumming has led to serious impacts on Asiatic tory shepherds (gaddis and bakkarwals) in Himachal black bear habitat. In Meghalaya,about 95% of the land Pradeshoften eliminateHimalayan brown bears to reduce is privatelyowned andthe stategovernment does not have livestock depredation. Poaching for skins or trophiesis, any mandateto protect wildlife or their habitatsin these however, very rare. areas. Human-BlackBear Interactions.-One of the serious limiting factorsfor Asiatic black bearconservation in In- Management dia is the response of people to human-blackbear con- Both bear species are listed as "vulnerable"in the Red flicts. Reportsof livestock killing by Asiatic black bear Data Book (InternationalUnion for Conservationof Na- and attackson humansto the Forest and Wildlife Depart- ture and NaturalResources [IUCN]) 1974) but not listed ment are common, largely in the northwestern and west- as "threatened"in the 1996 Red List of ThreatenedAni- ern Himalayanregion. For example, in ChambaDistrict mals (IUCN 1996). Both are also listed on AppendixI of of Himachal Pradesh,the numberof Asiatic black bear CITES (1992) and on Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife attackson humanshas steadilyincreased from 10 in 1988- (Protection)Act (MoEF 1972) and its 1991 amendment. 89 to 21 in 1991-92. For the sameperiod, livestock killed TRAFFIC-Indiamonitors trade of this species andits prod- by black bears also increasedfrom 29 to 45 (P.Thapliyal, ucts. ForestDepartments have startedpaying compensa- Forest Department,Himachal Pradesh, India, personal tion for humans injured or killed by black bear and communication,1995). Similarly,in ChamoliDistrict of livestock killed by bears. Uttaranchal,the numberof such cases increased from 1 One intentof the ForestConservation Act 1980 (MoEF in 1990-91 to 16 in 1992-93 (Tewari1993, unpublished 1980) was to curbhabitat loss due to deforestation. This report). Reasons for the increasedincidence of reported act mandatesa shift from commercially oriented forest cattle killing and attackson humansby Asiatic black bear managementto conservation-orientedmanagement. The may be: (1) shrinkingAsiatic black bear habitatdue to NationalWildlife Action Plan(MoEF 1983) was launched extensionof agriculturallands, human encroachment, and in 1983 to establishand manage a networkof PAs and to habitatdegradation, leading to increased use of agricul- restorehabitat and protectwildlife in multiple-useareas. tural lands by bears; (2) increasinghuman population in The numberof PAs in Indiahas risen from 131 in 1975 and aroundPAs and forestedareas and increasingdepen- to 566 as of 1 January2000, and there are proposals for dency on forests for human needs, leading to increased new and modified PAs, which would raise the numberof frequencyof bear-humanencounters; and (3) increasing PAs to 858. In total, this would protect and manage awareness among local people regardingcompensation 187,192 km2,which is 5.7% of India's area (Rodgers et 28 Ursus 12:2001 al. 2000). completion of EnvironmentalImpact Assessments prior to projectapproval. The shortcycle ofjhummingin north- Changes in RelativeAbundance of Asiatic easternstates needs to be replacedwith longer cycles. BlackBear Status surveys should be conducted for Asiatic black Priorto this questionnaire(1994-95), there was no in- bear and Himalayanbrown bear in most partsof Sikkim, formationon the relativeabundance of Asiatic black bear West Bengal, ArunachalPradesh, and other northeastern in PAs. Fromthis survey,information on the relativeabun- states. Monitoringof Asiatic black bear and Himalayan dance of Asiatic black bear was available from 17 PAs, brown bear populationsbased on direct and indirectevi- and as of 1999 was availablefor 44 PAs. An analysis of dence in PAs must be initiated. changes in the relativeabundance of Asiatic black bearin Scientific researchon the ecology of Asiatic black bear these PAs as reportedby respondentsindicate lower abun- and Himalayanbrown bear is necessary, as information dance for 6 cases, higher abundancein 3 cases, and no on food and feeding habits, habitatutilisation, and rang- changein 8 cases. The relativeabundance of Asiaticblack ing patternsare crucial for the long-termconservation and bears outside PAs is not known, but in general popula- managementof these 2 species in India. tions seem to be declining in most areas. Changes in RelativeAbundance of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS HimalayanBrown Bear I thankall the scientists, forest and wildlife managers, Prior to this questionnairein 1994-95, there was no wildlife staff of Forest Departments,and otherswho had information on the relative abundance of Himalayan providedvaluable information through interviews and by brownbears in PAs. Fromthis survey,information on the returningthe questionnaires.From the Wildlife Institute relative abundanceof Himalayanbrown bear was avail- of India, I thank S.K. Mukherjee,Director; and A.J.T. able from only 12 PAs, and as of 1999 it was availablefor Johnsingh,Senior Faculty Co-ordinator, Sanjeeva Pandey 14 PAs. However,there remains insufficient information andPratap Singh, faculty colleagues, who helpedme com- to assess changesin the relativeabundance of Himalayan plete this paper. I thank C.G. Rice and D. Mallon for brownbears in these PAs. reviewing an earlierversion of this manuscriptand pro- viding their valuable comments. My thanks are due to V.R. Athreya, D. Pundir,and late G.S. Shanmugamfor CONSERVATIONRECOMMENDATIONS their help and assistancein the preparationof figures;J.S. The proposalfor declaringnew PAs and extendingex- Kathayatfor retrievalof informationfrom NationalWild- isting PAs in the Trans-Himalayanand Greater Himalayan life Databaseat the Institute;and my wife A.S. Kumarfor regions of India should be executed by the State Forest her help and supportin preparingthis manuscript. andWildlife Departmentsas soon as possible. LargePAs areneeded to maintainviable populationsof Asiatic black bear,Himalayan brown bear, and other largermammals. LITERATURECITED Convention on InternationalTrade in of Over 70% of the PAs with bearpopulations are <500 km2 EndangeredSpecies WildFlora and Fauna. 1992. Conventionon International andsuffer from human and livestock pressures from within Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. and outside. forested areas adjacentto PAs Identifying Annual Report, Ministry of Environment and Forests, PAs is crucial. of and forest corridorsbetween Examples Governmentof India, New Delhi, India. such areasare: Panthrabis, Chota, and BaraBangal areas Cowan, I. McT. 1970. The status and conservationof bears in HimachalPradesh; Reserved Forest areas adjacentto (Ursidae)of the world-1970. Pages 343-367 in S. Herrero, Kedarath WS and Valley of Flowers NP; and forested editor. Bears and their biology and management. areas adjacentto Sangla WS in Himachal Pradesh and InternationalUnion for Conservation of Natureand Natural Govind WS in Uttaranchal. Resources, Morges, Switzerland. andP.J. Garson. 1992. A of theGreat To control and requiresadditional Gaston,A.J, re-appraisal poaching smuggling NationalPark. A to theHimachal Pradesh well-trainedwildlife staff to and PAs in Himalayan report protect manage of Forest and Conservation, remotearea allow- Department Farming India. Adequatefacilities, incentives, InternationalTrust for NatureConservation, World Wide ances, equipment,and motivationare requiredfor wild- Fund for Nature-India,New Delhi, India. life staff in all areas. Wildlife awarenessprograms for the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Indian Army, border police personnel, and the general Development. 1993. Action plan for Himalaya. Himavikas public are needed. The Governmentshould regulate all Publication,2, Almora, India. developmentalactivities, such as dam and roadconstruc- Gee, E.P. 1967. A note on the occurrenceof the MalayanSun tion in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, by ensuring bear Helarctos malayanus Raffles within Indian limits. BEARSIN INDIA * Sathyakumar 29
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