1. Sloth bear Conservation Project, CNP
People’s perception?
Threats?
Presented by:
N.P. Gautam (PI)
and
B. R. Lamchhane (Conservation
Officer NTNC, BCC, Chitwan)

2. Introduction Name: Melursus ursinus, Kathe Bhalu, Baiting bear
IUCN list: VU
CITES: Appendix I
Protected animal list: not receive legal protection in Nepal
Range: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka
Behaviour: Adult-Active in day and night
Female with cub-Active in night
Gestation: 6-7 months (breed interval 2-3 years)

3. Objective of the project
1. Research
• Distribution and status of sloth bear?
• Associated threats and people’s perception on sloth bear?
2. Dissemination
• Various conservation educational activities
• Workshop: Plan preparation
3. Advocacy
• Conservation group formation and strengthen

4. Methods Camera trap, Request for data from NTNC
Distribution map using occupancy in GIS
Study area stratification, basis on bear trapped
(use distributional map)
Sampling: Stratified random (chance)
Interview with 200 (HH) respondents-
Bear trap in Camera ©BCC
Threats explored
Review previous study of Joshi et al., other
relevant documents
KII-Status estimation, threats explored

5. Results: Crop damage 1. Status of agriculture crop damage by
sloth bear
Majority of the BZ people reported
that, agriculture crop was damaged
by sloth bear
2. Value of crop damage caused by Sloth
bear last year
(Average) NPR
-Minimum NPR 100
-Maximum 27000
3. % damage of crop by Sloth bear last
year %

6. Result…: Conservation willingness
4. If crop insurance program is initiated/ease; People’s motive to bear conservation If people get benefit as crop insurance, people can (agreed to )conserve the sloth bear
5. Willingness to pay (in value)
-For a year NPR

7. Result…: Bear attack
6. Status of bear attack to the domestic animals or members of family Majority of said; no/not frequently attacked
7. If attack, where?
Most of attack inside the reserve
8. Satisfaction from park support
Most of the victims are not satisfied

8. Result…: People’s perception
8. Status of people’s interest in Sloth bear
conservation
Most of the BZ people was found to be
interested to conserve the sloth bear
9. Motivation factor
For better participation, people need
conservation know how or idea.

9. Result…: Conservation-need, limit
10. Works to be done to conserve the sloth bear
Majority of the people agreed that preparation of participatory action
plan on sloth bear conservation is needed for conserving it
Make participatory
action plan
People should unite
Do research
Can't say
and advocate
39.8
16.3
21.4
22.4
11. Factors limiting the Sloth bear conservation
Lesser priority of authority, improper planning, poaching and habitat
destruction limit the conservation of sloth bear in CNP
Poaching
Habitat destruction
Poaching by human
Habitat destruction by invaders
Lesser priority given by authority
Improper
planning
Cant say
12.6
11.6
9.5
24.2
16.8
25.3

10. Result…: Pop. Trend, threats
12. Population trend of sloth bear in park Sloth bear population in CNP is increasing Estimated Population in CNP: 271
Increasing
Same
Decreasing
79.8
13.8
6.4
13. Threats on Sloth bear conservation
Major threats on sloth bear is habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Poaching
People interference
Food scarcity 60
26.7
6.7

11. Result…: Suggestion 14. Suggestion in priority Suggestion Priority
Awareness I
Research II
Fencing around BZ/emphasise in patrolling
III
Habitat management IV
Compensation V
Participation of stakeholders (in benefit/decision) VI
Alternate energy (Subsidy to people)
VII

12. Result…: Preference 15. Preference matrix (on the basis of IRR) High_1
Relative
Preference
Tourism
Authority priority
NGO/researcher
priority
Relative population
Threats extent
Conflict (PP)
High_1
Rhino
Deer 2
Tiger
Elephant 3
Leopard
Crocodile 4
Sloth bear 5 6
Least_7

13. Conclusion Melursus ursinus: not receive legal protection in Nepal
Frequency of crop damage by bear is higher than that of
human or livestock attack
14.43% last year crops of people’s field were damaged by
bear
Better implementation of crop insurance policy can make
positive attitude of people towards bear conservation (WTP
NPR )
Still park forest is satisfactory to hold the bear inside
Population is in increasing in trends
Estimated population of sloth bear is about 271 in CNP

14. Conclusion….
Whatever victims received as compensation from park is not
satisfactory (or value is not equal to the loss)
People are interested to conserve the bear but need
knowledge, with raising awareness and research
Authority has been taking lesser attention on bear and its
welfare which is facilitating to poaching and destructing its
habitat by human or by invaders
Threats on bear is relatively lesser than that of other flagships
in CNP
Conflict led due to bear action is relatively lesser than that of
other flagships in CNP

15. Thank you