DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR AND BROWN BEAR AND HUMAN‐BEAR CONFLICT IN MANASLU CONSERVATION AREA, NEPAL A Progress Report Submitted to Taronga Conservation Society, Australia Submitted by: National Trust for Nature Conservation‐Manaslu Conservation Area Project, Nepal Prepared by: Madhu Chetri MAY 2013 i Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Acronyms and Abbreviations ...........................................................................................vi Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Objectives of Study ............................................................................................ 1 2. Study Area .................................................................................................................. 1 3. Methodology ................................................................................................................ 2 4. Results and discussion ................................................................................................ 4 4.1. Distribution and abundance of Himalayan black bear and brown bear within MCA . 4 4.1.1. Forest vegetation recorded in Himalayan black bear and brown bear habitats ................................................................................................................................. 5 4.2. Human-Bear Conflict and Economic Loss ................................................................ 6 4.2.1. Seasonal calendar-cultivation and time of crop damage ................................ 6 4.2.2. Ranking of major pest wild animals within MCA ............................................. 8 4.2.3. Past and present trend of crop damage and livestock killings ........................ 8 4.2.4. An Assessment of crop damage through direct field measurement ............... 8 4.2.5. Livestock killing, attacks and human casualties ............................................. 9 4.2.6. Ranking of damages from black bear and brown bear ................................. 12 4.2.7. Human-black bear and brown bear conflict in MCA ..................................... 13 4.3. Publication of educational materials ....................................................................... 13 4.4. Awareness camps and workshop ........................................................................... 14 4.4.1. Conservation Awareness Program ............................................................... 14 4.4.2. Formation of Night Vigilance Group (NVG) .................................................. 15 4.4.3. Data Recording Training .............................................................................. 15 4.4.4 Human Bear Conflict Mitigation Measures Workshop ................................... 15 5.0. Findings of Pre and Post Survey ............................................................................ 17 6.0. Conclusion and Recommendation .......................................................................... 17 7.0. References ............................................................................................................. 19 ii Annex Annex 1: Participants of environmental awareness camp, Lho & Lhi villages, 29 August 2012 .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Annex 2: Participants of environmental awareness camp, Lho village, 1 Sept, 2012 .... 21 Annex 3: Participants of environmental awareness camp, Prok VDC, 03 September 2012 .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Annex 4: Participants of environmental awareness camp, Chhak village, 6 Sept, 2012 23 Annex 5: Night Vigilance Group, Prok (Date of formation: 04 September, 2012) ........... 23 Annex 6: Night Vigilance Group, Lhi village (Date of Formation: 10 September, 2012) 24 Annex 7: Trainee of data recording training ........................................................................... 24 Annex 8: Participants of human-bear conflict mitigation workshop, Namrung village .... 24 Annex 9: Participants of human-bear conflict mitigation workshop, Sirdibas-Philim, 27 July, 2012 .................................................................................................................................... 25 Tables Table 1: Distribution of Himalayan black bear and brown bear within MCA .................... 4 Table 2: Calendar of crop cultivation within MCA based on PRA .................................... 6 Table 3: Calendar of crop damage by different wild animals in the study area ............... 7 Table 4: Ranking of crop raiding by various wild animals ................................................ 8 Table 5: Trend of livestock killings and crop damage by Himalayan black bear as per local perceptions (N=69) ................................................................................................. 8 Table 6: Conversion of Ghwak to Kilogram ..................................................................... 9 Table 7: Damage of maize crop by Himalayan black bear in the study area, 2012 ......... 9 Table 8: Livestock killings and depredation by Himalayan black bear in MCA .............. 10 Table 9: Economic loss due to livestock killings by Himalayan black bear, 2009-2012 . 10 Table 10: Total economic loss from livestock killings in four years, 2009-2012 ............ 10 Table 11: Livestock killings by Himalayan brown bear in MCA, 2012 ........................... 11 Table 12: Assessment of ranking due to black bear ...................................................... 12 Table 13: Direct observation of crop loss by Himalayan black bear, 2012 .................... 13 Table 14: Questionnaire survey households, 2012 ....................................................... 13 Table 15: Summary of implemented activities ............................................................... 14 Table 16: Preference ranking of mitigation measures ................................................... 16 Figures Figure 1: Location map of the project sites ...................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Distribution map of Himalayan black bear and brown bear and conflict areas . 5 Photos Photo 1: Himalayan black bear and brown bear conservation awareness poster in Nepali language. ........................................................................................................... 26 iii Photo 2: Himalayan black bear and brown conservation awareness poster in Tibetan language. ...................................................................................................................... 27 Photo 3: Himalayan black bear and brown bear conservation sticker. .......................... 28 Photo 4: Bhanjam-Lhi Village, Lho VDC with several night guarding temporary camps at corn field. ....................................................................................................................... 29 Photo 5: Awareness camp at Prok village-participants watching video related to environmental awareness and wildlife conservation. .................................................... 30 Photo 6: Awareness camp at Lhi village-participants watching video show. ................. 30 Photo 7: Interaction with local communities with regards to human-bear conflict at Lhi, Lho VDC. ....................................................................................................................... 30 Photo 8: Participants presenting group work findings during the coordination workshop at Philim, Sirdibas VDC. ................................................................................................ 30 Photo 9: Participants of Human-Bear Conflict Mitigation Workshop, Prok village. ........ 31 Photo 10: Project staff interacting with local inhabitants at Lhi village regarding Human- Bear Conflict. ................................................................................................................. 31 Photo 11: Night Vigilance Group at Lhi Village. ............................................................. 31 Photo 12: Project staff testing mega torch light to handover to Night Vigilance Group, Lhi Village. ..................................................................................................................... 31 Photo 13: Night guarding platform at Chhak village, Prok VDC. ................................... 32 Photo 14: Night guarding platform at Namrung village, Prok VDC. ............................... 32 Photo 15: Remains of the maize corn left by Himalayan black bear, Namrung village. 32 Photo 16: Trail of Himalayan black bear at maize corn field, Chhak village, Prok VDC. 32 Photo 17: A typical forest habitats (mixed Oak forest) of Himalayan black bear in MCA. ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Photo 18: A typical pine forest habitats of Himalayan black bear in MCA. .................... 33 Photo 19: A typical habitat of Himalayan brown bear in MCA. ...................................... 34 Photo 20: Signs of Himalayan brown bear-snow