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Letter to the Editor: Symbiotic Relationship Between Local People and Asiatic Black Bears
Date of this Version
Winter 2022
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Winter 2022) 16(3): article 11
doi: 10.26077/ad7b-5eb4
Abstract
There are 8 species of bears (Ursidae) in the world; of these, 6 species are known to occur in Asia. However, in Bhutan, there are only 2 species: the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). The Asiatic black bear is legally protected by the Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan 1995. The bear is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and also included under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Human–bear conflicts are prevalent in Bhutan, especially at the village level where the livelihood consists of livestock rearing and agricultural farming. We have observed a symbiotic relationship between local people and bears in Phrumsengla National Park in Bhutan.
Comments
Open access. License: CC BY 4.0