In Jambavan’s land: Sloth bears mostly coexist peacefully with humans in Karnataka; but conflict is not non-existent

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Karnataka, known in Hindu mythology as the home of Jambavan, the bear king, is also home to a significant population of sloth bears (Melursus ursinus).

Details:

A survey by the state forest department in Karnataka’s Western Ghats revealed a surprisingly harmonious coexistence between sloth bears and humans.
Cultural acceptance in densely populated areas has been favourable for the bears, challenging the typical narrative of human-wildlife conflict.
Despite this, Karnataka has experienced some human-sloth bear confrontations, causing concern among communities and wildlife enthusiasts. Sloth bears occupy about 67% of their potential habitat in India, extending beyond protected areas into multi-use forests.
In the Western Ghats, approximately 61% of the forested landscape is inhabited by sloth bears. They show a preference for drier forests and rough terrains.
Karnataka’s Bannerughatta National Park has become a prominent site for bear protection.

Sloth Bears:

It is a Myrmecophagous bear species.
Distribution:
- They are endemic to the Indian sub-continent and 90% of the species population is found in India with small populations in Nepal and Srilanka.
- It occurs in a wide range of habitats including moist and dry tropical forests, savannahs, scrublands and grasslands below 1,500 m (4,900 ft) on the Indian subcontinent, and below 300 m (980 ft) in Sri Lanka’s dry forests. It is regionally extinct in Bangladesh.
- Sloth bears are found in all parts of the country except Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern States.
Characteristics:
- They are nocturnal animals.
- It feeds on fruits, ants and termites.
- Sloth bears do not hibernate.
Protection Status
- IUCN red list: listed as ‘vulnerable’
- Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 : listed under Schedule I
Threats:
- Animal-Human conflict: Over the past few years there has been a rise of incidents of human sloth bear conflict in States like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra among other states.
- Exploitation: Sometimes captured and kept as pets, which can lead to their exploitation and mistreatment.

Source: DTE