Ecology and Conservation of Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos Malayanus in Dampa Tiger Reserve Mizoram India

Abstract

newlineSun bear are tagged as priority species due to habitat loss, deforestation, newlineexcessive poaching and hunting through-out their home range. Their distribution is newlinestrictly restricted within the Southeast Asian countries. In India they are reported only newlinefrom the northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, newlineMeghalaya, Mizoram and Assam. Hunting and poaching for bear bile in North-eastern states of India and neighbouring countries had led to decline of the species or confining them to few protected areas. The study aims to determine the habitat, ecological and nutritional geometry along with the conservation aspects of sun bear in Dampa Tiger reserve. It also aims to determine the effectiveness of educational awareness programs on perceptions of local peoples and its potential role in conservation of the species and their habitat in and around the reserve. Dampa Tiger reserve in Mizoram, India, where its presence is reported is one of newlinethe few remaining habitat for the species in the country and required immediate newlineconservation intervention. Different sets of techniques and methods were newlineapplied for data collection, data analysis and interpretation. The information obtained through the study will be important to better understand the ecology and food habits of sun bear along with the threats for sun bear in the region. As 90% of SB habitats fall outside protected areas, it is important to not only protect them in the reserved areas but also in the buffer regions. The effectiveness of the educational awareness program can be used as a model approach to undertake future studies in other parts of Northeast India and sun bear ranging countries. It also covers several forms of human dimensions and tries to form a balance between needs of the population and sustainability of wildlife along with nature. newline newline