SLOTH BEAR |
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RANGE-WIDE, INDIA
Sloth bears are among the most widespread yet under-studied large carnivores. We used information gathered through interviews of wildlife experts across India to map sloth bear distribution. Sloth bears occupy roughly 52% of the country, influenced by deciduous forests, scrub and barren areas, regions with high human densities and cultural tolerance. The study can be accessed here.
WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
We conducted a landscape-scale assessment of sloth bear distribution in 2007, based on indirect sign surveys. Sloth bears occupied 61% of forests surveyed in the Ghats, influenced by forest cover, rugged terrains, rainfall and human disturbance. These results complemented the countrywide assessment, providing a multi-scale perspective on the ecological requirements of sloth bears.
Using the sloth bear as an example, we compared two commonly used survey methods to estimate their habitat occupancy in the Bhadra region of Western Ghats. Estimates from camera-trap surveys closely mirrored those from indirect sign-based surveys. Sloth bears were found in 57% of the region, influenced by forest cover, habitat productivity and rugged terrains. The study has been published here.
We conducted a landscape-scale assessment of sloth bear distribution in 2007, based on indirect sign surveys. Sloth bears occupied 61% of forests surveyed in the Ghats, influenced by forest cover, rugged terrains, rainfall and human disturbance. These results complemented the countrywide assessment, providing a multi-scale perspective on the ecological requirements of sloth bears.
Using the sloth bear as an example, we compared two commonly used survey methods to estimate their habitat occupancy in the Bhadra region of Western Ghats. Estimates from camera-trap surveys closely mirrored those from indirect sign-based surveys. Sloth bears were found in 57% of the region, influenced by forest cover, habitat productivity and rugged terrains. The study has been published here.
KANHA–PENCH, CENTRAL INDIA
We used mechanistic predictive models to simultaneously examine sloth bear distribution and patterns of human-attacks in the Kanha–Pench forest landscape. The approach could be of immense utility to minimize fatal attacks on people and would therefore facilitate co-existence of humans and bears in shared forest landscapes. The paper based on this study is available here.
We used mechanistic predictive models to simultaneously examine sloth bear distribution and patterns of human-attacks in the Kanha–Pench forest landscape. The approach could be of immense utility to minimize fatal attacks on people and would therefore facilitate co-existence of humans and bears in shared forest landscapes. The paper based on this study is available here.
