Human-sun bear conflicts in East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo Gabriella Fredriksson1 Institutefor Biodiversityand Ecosystem Dynamics, Universityof Amsterdam Mauritskade61, 1090 GT Amsterdam,Netherlands Abstract: Interviewswith farmers(1998-2000) in 5 communitiesalong the edge of the Sungai Wain ProtectionForest, East Kalimantan,Indonesian Borneo, indicated that crop damage caused by sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) was higher than normal following the 1997-98 El Nifno Southern Oscillation Event. Widespreaddrought and forest fires reduced habitatand fruit availabilityfor sun bears on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.The main source of antagonismtoward bears resulted from the damage they caused to stands of old coconut trees, which frequentlykilled the trees. This promptedfarmers to seek removal of the bears. Bear damage to annualcrops generally spurreda less hostile reaction. Experiments with metal sheeting affixed to the trunks of coconut trees to deter climbing by bears were successful, at least in the short term (<3 years). Inexpensive and easily applicablecrop-protection devices such as this could help protectsun bears in the future,as increased human-bear conflicts are anticipated due to rapid human population growth, unabated forest destructionand fragmentation,and increased susceptibilityof remainingforests to fires. Key words: coconut, crop damage, Helarctos malayanus, Indonesia,Kalimantan, sun bear, tree protection Ursus16(1):130-137 (2005) Most species of bearsare opportunisticomnivores that were first planted close to forest habitat. Early reports of de- may be consideredpests when attractedto human-related from colonialists in Indonesia described ways foods. NorthAmerican bears (grizzly bears Ursus arctos terring or killing maraudingbears in fruit plantations and Americanblack bears U. americanus)are known to (O-Viri 1925), even when adjacentforest habitat was still effects of timber use apiaries,crops, orchardfruits, garbage, and livestock extensive. In recentyears, the combined for food (Ambrose and Sanders 1978, Knight and Judd harvesting and forest fires have significantly reduced 1983, Garshelis et al. 1999). They also may afflict forest coverage in Kalimantan(Curran et al. 2004, Fuller on Indone- considerable damage to timber stands (Stewart et al. et al. 2004). Increasedhuman encroachment human-wildlifeconflicts 1999). In Japan,Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus)raid sian forests has led to increased and crops, orchards,and fish farms (Huygens and Hayashi (Meijaard1999, Rijksen Meijaard1999), although conflicts 1999). Sloth bears(Melursus ursinus) have been reported little information is available on specifically to damage sugarcaneand groundnutplantations (Iswar- with sun bears. sun bearhabitat iah 1984). Andean bears (Tremarctosornatus) in South On the islandsof Borneo and Sumatra, or forest America have been reported to predate on livestock has recentlybeen severely reduced damagedby 1997-98 El Nifio SouthernOscillation (Goldstein2002). Until a few decades ago bountieswere fires linked to the 5.2 million ha of land, of commonly used as a means of reducing or eliminating (ENSO) event. Approximately ha were were burned in 4 bears to protect crops or livestock (Azuma and Torii which 2.6 million forest, East Kalimantanalone 1980, Swenson et al. 1994, Mattsonand Merrill2002). monthsin the provinceof (Siegert tree-bone In Southeast Asia, sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) et al. 2001). Sun bear fruit resources(mainly declined in bured forests, with tree probablycommenced crop-raiding when attractivefoods fruits) significantly mortality(>10 cm dbh) reaching >90% in certainareas (van Nieuwstadt 2002, G. Fredriksson, unpublished data). Insects, an alternative bear food (Wong et al. were also reduced (G. Fredriksson, [email protected] 2002), significantly 130 SUN BEAR-HUMANCONFLICTS * Fredriksson 131 bear-relatedcrop damage; and (3) to find ways of alleviating the most disturbingtypes of sun bear damage. Study area The study was carried out in 5 farming communities along the south- ern and easternperiphery of the Sungai Wain Protection Forest (SWPF), near Balikpapan,East Kalimantan,Indone- sian Borneo (1?16'S and 116?54'E; Fig. 1). The reserve covers a lowland dipterocarpforest watercatchment area of approximately10,000 ha. Forest fires entered the SWPF in early March 1998, initially from a neighboring state-owned logging concession, but subsequently from surroundingagricultural fields, affect- ing some 60% of the reserve. After the fires in 1998, connections to forest areasnorth and west of the reservewere significantlyreduced. To the south and east the reserve is borderedby agricul- turalplots, unproductivegrassland, and shrublands.At the time this study com- menced, the SWPF consisted of ap- proximately40 km2 of primaryforest and 40 km2 of regenerating burned forest; 20 km2 was affected human Fig. 1. Five farming communities adjacent to the Sungai Wain by Protection Forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, surveyed for sun bear encroachment(Fredriksson 2002). damage, 1990-2000. unpublisheddata). Suitablesun bearhabitat in these fire- Methods affected areas has become progressively fragmented, Interviews increasing the chances of edge-related conflict with Informal hoiusehold interviews were conducted in 5 humans(Woodroffe and Ginsberg 1998). farming comnlunities around the SWPF (Fig. 1) to Although some fruits (e.g. Ficus spp.) are generally compile infornnation on sun bear damage to crops and availableyear-round, abundant fruiting in forests in this orchards.Interv views were initiatedjust afterthe 1998 fires region occurs at intervalsof about 2-10 years (Medway and continuedi n 1999 and 2000. Each year, my assistants 1972, Ashton et al. 1988, Curranand Leigthon 2000). and I interview(ed 99 farmersrepresenting 40% of the 246 After the large-scale forest fires in 1997-98, a wide- families in these communities. The number of farmers spreadfruiting failure prevailedfor more than one year. interviewedin each communitywas proportionalto the The combinationof rapidloss of habitatas well as inter- numberof inhaibitants in that community.We attempted annual shortages of food may increasinglycompel sun to carry out thee same numberof interviews annually in bears to seek nearby human food sources, especially each communiity, though the identity of interviewees crops planted along the forest edge. differed slightly over the years. We focused on farmers The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine who had lived in the areaat least 5 years before the fires type and extent of crop damage caused by sun bears; and those wh(o frequently visited or worked in their (2) to assess reactions of farmersto different types of gardens, as o pposed to landowners who visit their Ursus 16(1):130-137 (2005) 132 SUN BEAR-HUMANCONFLICTS * Fredriksson orchardson an irregularbasis. Because our selection of trees growing near protected trees (n = 75) were farmersfor interviewingwas not random,we cannot be monitoredsimultaneously. sure that inadvertent biases did not arise. In one communityall familiesrelied on farmingfor theirincome; in the remaining4 communities approximately80% of Results families did. We posed questionsregarding ethnic origin Farmer profiles and practices of farmers,farming history, farmingpractices, types and Most interviewed farmersnear the SWPF were im- amount of crops grown, and location of the farm in migrantsfrom other islands (Sulawesi, Java), with only relationto the forest edge. Informationon crop damage 18% originating from Boreo (Dayak or Pasir tribes). was recordedthrough interviews with as much detail as The averagesize of gardens,owned or leased, was 2.6 ha possible, including species and quantity of crops fed (SD = 0.4). Farmershad lived in the area on averagefor upon, number of trees damaged and type of damage, 20 years (SD = 7). Mixed orchards(43%), snakefruit frequency of bear visits, bear crop raiding behavior, plantations(24%), bananas (8%), vegetables (7%, such as damage to crops by other wildlife species, and methods cassava, beans [Fabaceae],spinach [Basellaceae]), rice used to reduce wildlife-relatedcrop damage. Whenever (Poaceae, 7%) and coconut trees (Palmae, 6%), consti- possible we directlyobserved crop damage in the gardens. tuted the main crops in the area. Snakefruitis a contin- uously fruiting low-growing palm species, and several Damage mitigation trials tree species in the mixed orchardsalso produced fruits We attempted to reduce sun bear consumption of throughoutthe year, even thoughtheir wild congenersin farmer's fruits through conditioned taste aversion with the forest were more seasonal. thiabendazole (TBZ). TBZ-induced conditioned taste aversionhas been used to reduceconsumption of human- Crop damage related foods and livestock by American black bears The main wildlife species reported to raid gardens (Tement and Garshelis 1999) and several species of throughout the study period were bearded pigs (Sus canids (Gustavson et al. 1983). TBZ powder (Sigma barbatus,98% of gardens),followed by sun bears(43%), Chemical, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA) was mixed into barking deer (Muntiacus spp., 42%), civets (20%, samples of ripe fruit (14-23 mg TBZ/g food) that were [Viverridae]), squirrels (12%, [Sciuridae]), and other targetedby sun bears in gardens or orchards.TBZ was species, includingmacaques [Macaca spp.] and pythons mixed thoroughly in the soft, ripe pulp of breadfruit, [Pythonreticulatus] (raiding chicken coops). Nearlyone- pineapple,and papaya.Diluted TBZ, as opposed to TBZ quarter(22%)