Ursus Thibetanus Research Articles

Evaluating dynamics in human‐bear interactions within social‐ecological system

Abstract Over the past few decades, social‐ecological transformations have contributed to the restoration of numerous carnivores, presenting new challenges for human‐wildlife coexistence. Evaluating and understanding human‐wildlife interaction dynamics, particularly for conflict‐prone species, is crucial for conservation and management strategies. Our study focuses on Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Western Yunnan, China, a region with favourable bear conditions and significant environmental changes due to conservation policies. This study employed a multifaceted approach to gather data on bear occurrences and human‐bear conflicts. Utilising species distribution models, we predicted the potential bear habitat in 2000 and 2020. We proposed a methodology integrating bear habitat with human footprint to delineate the human‐bear interface. Additionally, we evaluated the spatial–temporal variations in bear habitat and human‐bear interface between 2000 and 2020. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted to capture the perceptions of local communities regarding the bear population, human‐bear interactions and conservation policies. Our findings indicated that the potential habitats of bears were strongly influenced by forest cover. We noticed improvements in bear habitat from 2000 to 2020, notwithstanding localised losses in specific areas. Most respondents attributed the increasing bear population to forest restoration and reduced human impact during this period. Notably, a significant proportion of respondents supported the conservation policies, previously participating in their formulation and implementation. Our analysis further revealed increases in the human‐bear interface and human‐bear interactions from 2000 to 2020. Remarkably, these changes did not significantly diminish local communities' endorsement of conservation policies. This resilience can be attributed to the net positive impacts of conservation policies on the livelihoods of these communities. Our study highlights the complexity and dynamic nature of human‐wildlife interactions within the social‐ecological system and provides new insights to facilitate sustainable conservation and management measures. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

High pathogenicity avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in a captive Tibetan black bear (Ursus thibetanus): investigations based on paraffin-embedded tissues, France, 2022.

Avian influenza viruses are able to cross the species barrier between birds and mammals because of their high genetic diversity and mutation rate. Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, we were able to investigate a Tibetan black bear's infection by a high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza virus at the molecular, phylogenetic, and histological levels. Our results highlight the importance of virological surveillance programs in mammals and the importance of raising awareness among veterinarians and zookeepers of the clinical presentations associated with H5Nx virus infection in mammals.

Evaluating hybrid speciation and swamping in wild carnivores with a decision-tree approach.

Hybridization is an important evolutionary force with a principal role in the origin of new species, known as hybrid speciation. However, ongoing hybridization can create hybrid swamping, in which parental genomes are completely lost. This can become a biodiversity threat if it involves species that have adapted to certain environmental conditions and occur nowhere else. Because conservation scientists commonly have a negative attitude toward hybrids, it is important to improve understanding of the influence of interspecific gene flow on the persistence of species. We reviewed the literature on species hybridization to build a list of all known cases in the order Carnivora. To examine the relative impact, we also noted level of introgression, whether fertile offspring were produced, and whether there was mention of negative or positive evolutionary effects (hybrid speciation and swamping). To evaluate the conservation implications of hybrids, we developed a decision-making tree with which to determine which actions should be taken to manage hybrid species. We found 53 hybrids involving 68 unique taxa, which is roughly 23% of all carnivore species. They mainly involved monophyletic (83%) and sympatric species (75%). For 2 species, the outcome of the assessment was to eliminate or restrict the hybrids: Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) and Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris). Both species hybridize with their domestic conspecifics. For all other cases, we suggest hybrids be protected in the same manner as native species. We found no evidence of genomic extinction in Carnivora. To the contrary, some species appear to be of hybrid origin, such as the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and African golden wolf (Canis lupaster). Other positive outcomes of hybridization are novel genetic diversity, adaptation to extreme environments, and increased reproductive fitness. These outcomes are particularly valuable for counterbalancing genetic drift and enabling adaptive introgression in a human-dominated world.

Historical and current distribution ranges of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)

The current distribution of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is available on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species website; however, nothing is known about the historical extent and occurrence of this species. Therefore, we aimed to understand the historical distribution of the Asiatic black bear, and map and estimate its total size, to compare it with that of species current distribution. In addition, we analyzed a network of protected areas in the past and current ranges of the species. We employed geographic information system (GIS) software to reconstruct and measure the historical range of the Asiatic black bear, comparing past and current ranges to analyze its expected range contraction. The main focus of the study was to enhance our understanding of the species' historical distribution, contributing to better conservation strategies for the present and future perspectives. The utilization of GIS tools facilitates a comprehensive exploration of the factors influencing the species' decline, ultimately aiding in more effective management and conservation efforts. We used published records of black bear’s occurrence in anywhere in history to reconstruct its historical distribution range. Results revealed that the Asiatic black bear was more widely distributed in historical times and its range spanned across approximately 15.86 million km2 while its current range is limited to approximately 7.85 million km2, showing a range contraction of approximately 49.5% (8.02 million km2 reduced). The total protected areas in the historical range of the species were found to be N = 9933, with total size of 0.946 million km2, against N = 6580 (0.667 million km2) that are present in the current range. Approximately 27.5% of the protected areas have lost the Asiatic black bear since historical times.

Identifying umbrella and indicator species to support multispecies population connectivity in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot

Successful conservation hinges on the reliable prediction and prioritisation of population core habitats and dispersal corridors. However, reliance on single-species connectivity has produced mixed results and, in most cases, failed to protect other species under the appealing but often unfulfilled guise of umbrella protection. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to identify core habitats and dispersal corridors for population connectivity of 15 terrestrial mammal species across Bhutan, (2) to identify indicator species of wildlife connectivity, (3) to prioritise core areas and dispersal corridors for the focal umbrella and indicator species, (4) to develop composite multispecies connectivity maps and evaluate the effectiveness of the existing protected area network. We used kernel density (KD) to identify core habitat areas and factorial least-cost path (LCP) to map dispersal corridors. We used correlation and cluster analyses to identify umbrella and indicator species, and quantitative ranking to prioritise core areas and corridors for these focal species. Finally, we produced maps of multispecies core areas and corridors, and identified gaps in the existing protected area network (PAN). We found that ungulates were generally more effective than carnivores in serving as umbrella species for core habitat protection, with Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) emerging as the most effective umbrella for core habitats and muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac) for dispersal corridors. We identified six focal connectivity indicator species in Bhutan: tiger (Panthera tigris), dhole (Cuon alpinus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Asian elephant, and sambar deer (Rusa unicolor). Most indicator species’ core areas and dispersal corridors outside the PAN were in southern Bhutan, indicating opportunities for increased multispecies connectivity through expanding protected area network in this region. A total of 40% of multispecies core areas and 24% of dispersal corridors were under PAN, with large parts of Bhutan offering suitable core areas and corridors for multispecies conservation. Core areas and corridors of the 15 considered species only partially overlapped, stressing the importance of multi-species consideration in designating wildlife corridors.

Pleistocene Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus Cuvier, 1823) in the Iberian Peninsula: new evidence and a complete review

The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus Cuvier, 1823) is a medium-sized ursid that currently mostly inhabits environments of dense foliage and forests in southern and eastern Asia. This species is currently extinct in Europe, but during the Middle Pleistocene and the beginning of the Late Pleistocene its distribution was wider and reached until Southern Siberia, the Ural Mountains, Caucasus and western Europe. The main objective of this work is to provide a detailed description of all the Ursus thibetanus remains from the Iberian Peninsula, describing for the first time the new remains, and discuss the chronological framework of the presence of this taxon in the largest of the southern European peninsulas. The Iberian Peninsula has yielded paleontological evidence of this taxon in five sites (Bolomor, Koskobilo, La Llanera, Cau d'en Borràs and Villavieja), and we present new paleontological evidence from the latter three sites, which is important due to the scarcity of U. thibetanus fossil remains. We compare the morphology of these new remains with both European Pleistocene fossils and recent U. thibetanus. Up until recently, its distribution in Iberia was thought to be restricted to the East of the Iberian Peninsula. But the recent identification of U. thibetanus remains in Koskobilo (Navarre) and in La Llanera (Oviedo) has resulted in a wider distribution of this species than what was previously thought. The dental remains from Koskobilo, La Llanera, Villavieja, Bolomor and Cau d'en Borràs fit well within the Pleistocene U. thibetanus from Europe morphologically and metrically. Some Iberian remains are morphologically similar to previously described U. thibetanus Pleistocene fossil subspecies. A M2 from Bolomor is morphologically closer to U. t. mediterraneus (MIS 7), and a M2 from Koskobilo is similar to U. t. kurteni (MIS 6–7). The postcranial fossil remains from Cau d'en Borràs and Villavieja fit well within the recent U. thibetanus range of variation. Except for the remains from Bolomor (MIS 5e and MIS 7), the rest of the Iberian U. thibetanus fossils are difficult to ascribe chronologically. Based on other biochronological proxies, Cau d'en Borràs and Koskobilo can tentatively be assigned to the MIS 7–5 range, Villavieja could be assigned to MIS 13–5, and La Llanera is probably the oldest record of U. thibetanus in Iberia (MIS 15–13). However, until new direct datings are performed on the sites, the proposed chronologies should be regarded with caution.

[Research progress in pharmacological effectsand mechanism of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases].

Fel Ursi is a dried product obtained from the gallbladder of Ursidae animals, such as Selenarctos thibetanus or Ursus arctos, through gallbladder surgery for bile drainage. It is one of the rare animal medicinal materials in China and is known for its therapeutic effects, including clearing heat, removing toxins, extinguishing wind, relieving spasms, clearing the liver, and improving vision. Research has also found that Fel Ursi has pharmacological effects against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant stress properties. Recently, numerous studies have confirmed the close relationship between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the gut microbiota as well as gut metabolites. Fel Ursi contains bile acid components that may have bidirectional regulatory effects on the gut microbiota and gut metabolites. This aspect could represent a potential therapeutic pathway for Fel Ursi in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This article comprehensively summarized relevant literature in China and abroad, reviewed the research progress on the pharmacological effects of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and explored the impact of Fel Ursi on gut microbiota and gut metabolites, thereby aiming to provide references for further in-depth research and clinical application of Fel Ursi.

Measuring ecosystem services and ecological sensitivity for comprehensive conservation in Giant Panda National Park.

China announced the development of its first 5 national parks in 2021, the primary objective of which is to conserve the natural state and integrity of natural ecosystems. As such, ecosystem services and biodiversity levels are crucial assessment factors for the parks. For Giant Panda National Park (GPNP), we evaluated ecological sensitivity based on water and soil erosion and rocky desertification; ecosystem services based on headwater conservation, soil and water conservation, and biodiversity conservation; and presence of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and sympatric species (e.g., takin [Budorcas taxicolor], Asiatic black bear [Ursus thibetanus]) habitat suitability derived from niche modeling to identify the ecosystem status and assess ecological problems within the park. From our results, we proposed ecologically critical areas to target to meet the park's goals. The suitable habitat for pandas and sympatric species encompassed 62.98% of the park and occurred mainly in the Minshan Mountains. One quarter of the total area (25.67%) contained areas important for ecosystem services. Ecologically sensitive and extremely sensitive areas covered 88.78% of the park and were distributed mainly in Qionglaishan and Minshan Mountains. This coverage indicated that there was much habitat for pandas and sympatric species but that the ecosystems in GPNP are vulnerable. Therefore, ecologically critical areas encompassed all suitable habitats for all the species examined and areas important and extremely important to ecosystem service provision,ecologically sensitive and extremely sensitive areas, encompassed 15.17% of panda habitat, accounted for 16.37% of the GPNP area, and were distributed mainly in the Minshan Mountains. Our results indicated where conservation efforts should be focused in the park and that by identifying ecologically critical areas managers can provide targeted protection for wildlife habitat and ecosystems and effectively and efficiently protect the composite ecosystem. Additionally, our methods can be used to inform development of new national parks.

Evidence for interspecific modulation of carcass consumption among facultative scavengers in Asian temperate forest

Interspecific interactions are one of the key drivers that can determine community structure through the complex energy dynamics in food webs. Top-down regulation by large mammals on other species is well documented, but is still limited to a few species in scavenging communities that compete for limited and ephemeral animal carcasses. In this study, we examined the effects of large scavengers (Asian black bear, Ursus thibetanus and wild boar, Sus scrofa) and seasons (summer and autumn) on carrion consumption. Specifically, we analyzed how large scavenger and season affected the visitation and duration of feeding on carcasses by other omnivorous scavengers (both each other and smaller mesocarnivores) in a temperate forest ecosystem in Japan. We found that bears and wild boars appear to have a competitive relationship by limiting each other's visitation to the carcasses. We also found that these large scavengers had limiting effects on the carrion consumption by mesocarnivores, suggesting that large scavengers not only reduce the available carrion largely but also create a landscape of fear for mesocarnivores. In addition, we found that the potential probability of visitation for large scavengers was associated with season. This suggests that top-down regulation from large scavengers to mesocarnivores may change with season, especially in omnivorous communities in temperate regions with varying seasonal abundance of different food sources. These complex interspecific interactions between scavengers among different seasons can contribute to maintaining and structuring the food web in this system.

A framework for assessing variations in ecological networks to support wildlife conservation and management

Habitat fragmentation poses a considerable threat to global biodiversity loss, making the study of landscape connectivity and ecological networks essential in an ever-changing environment. Of particular importance is the assessment of network dynamics, as it can provide invaluable specific insights for conservation and management strategies. This research proposes a framework to assess variations in ecological networks and identify conservation priorities. In this framework, we applied multi-methods to collect species occurrence and create resistance surfaces based on habitat suitability from the MaxEnt model. By using diverse approaches such as the least-cost model, circuit model, and centrality mapper, we identified ecological corridors between core areas and determined their centrality. Furthermore, we employed multi-level metrics to measure changes within ecological networks. Additionally, we introduced two indices to evaluate human disturbance faced by core habitats. We proposed a novel method that considers core habitats’ centrality and human disturbance to identify conservation priorities. Specifically, using the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) as a case species, we examined the variations in ecological network and human disturbance across 2000–2020 in Western Yunnan, China. Our study revealed overall improvement with local losses in the availability and connectivity of black bear habitats in Western Yunnan from 2000 to 2020. However, the core habitats have been facing an escalating human disturbance. Our approach provides a framework for assessing dynamic ecological networks that can be applied to diverse species, landscapes, and scenarios. Furthermore, this approach helps guide conservation and management to promote human-wildlife coexistence in a changing environment.

Spatio-temporal patterns of human-carnivore conflict and mitigation in Pakistan

Human-carnivore conflict is a noteworthy rural livelihood issue as livestock of local communities living around protected areas are depredated by wild carnivores, which are the persecuted by local communities, in response. The current study aimed at investigating the patterns, perception, economic losses, and mitigation of human wildlife conflict in Pakistan through meta-analysis of published literature and using the questionnaire survey method. We retrieved data from the published and unpublished sources, and from records of provincial wildlife departments. In addition, we also collected empirical data from different households falling in the range of targeted carnivore species and filled 331 semi-structured questionaries. Based on the activities and home range of the predator species, conflict density maps for each predator species were developed. Our analysis revealed that five major carnivore species are involved in the human-wildlife conflict, namely Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos), common leopard (Panthera pardus), grey wolf (Canis lupus) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia). About 7214 livestock heads were reportedly lost during past two decades because of these five carnivore species. The domestic goat depredation was maximum (51.08 %, n = 3685), followed by sheep (27.09 %, n = 1954), cow (11.37 %, n = 820), buffalo (2.34 %, n = 169), dogs (2.05 %, n = 148), poultry (0.87 %, n = 63), donkey (4.28 %, n = 348), and horse (0.37 %, n = 27), causing a total financial loss of USD 1.87 million. Maximum livestock depredation occurred in summer season (50.79 %), at night (59.92 %) time and outside the village (51.22 %). Majority of the people showed negative attitude towards the predators, and they did not know about the conservation status and the authorities to report for conservation of the predator species. Most of the respondents were unaware about the possible management of the predator species for the co-existence of human and wildlife in the same landscape. However, majority of respondents (38.3 %) thought that livestock depredation by carnivore species can be controlled through payment of insurance compensation to the person who lost its livestock during carnivore attacks, followed by restoration of natural habitat (20.1 %), translocation of predator (16 %), and improved husbandry practices like predator proof corals (8 %). The study concludes that buffer zones of the protected areas are the hotspots for human- wildlife conflict and to avoid such conflict in future, special mitigation measures should be adapted, and regulations should be developed to minimize the niche overlap of the livestock and wildlife prey species, thereby to avoid any competition for food resources.

Potential Distribution of the Asiatic Black Bear in Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim Eastern Himalaya using MaxEnt Modeling

Habitat assessment and mapping are major functional keys in the need species conservation concern. The study aimed to understand the possible distribution of Asiatic Black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Khangchendzonga National Park. Sign survey, camera trapping, and trail monitoring were used to collect the presence-only data. In this analysis, we used Maximum Entropy Modeling and ArcGIS to determine the variable's contribution to the species distribution and presence. In total, 63 presence data were obtained, and out of 23 environmental variables we used only 15 different environmental variables due to multicollinearity. The ROC results show that variable consistency was excellent (mean AUC=0.941). The variables like Bio-14(Precipitation of driest month), Bio-2(Mean diurnal range (mean of monthly max temp - min temp)), Bio-13(Precipitation of wettest month), aspect and LULC were the critical factors for the distribution of U.thibetanus. The major distribution of U.thibetanus was found in the broadleaved, coniferous forest and grassland patches in the core area. The temperate zone is most preferred as compared to the sub-alpine and alpine zone by U.thibetanus. The distributional area accounts for 360.32km2, representing 20.19% of the whole core area of Khangchendzonga National Park. Large areas of distribution were predicted outside of the core areas, i.e. buffer and transition areas of Khangchendzonga National Park. This study offers valuable findings and data which can be used in future research and conservation management plans in and around Khangchendzonga National Park to mitigate human-bear interaction.

Trichinella T9 in wild bears in Japan: Prevalence, species/genotype identification, and public health implications.

In Japan, the recent series of sporadic outbreaks of human trichinellosis caused by Trichinella (Nematoda: Trichocephalida) has occurred owing to the consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked meat from wild bears. However, the infection status and molecular characteristics of Trichinella larvae in Japanese wild bears remain poorly understood. This study investigated the prevalence of Trichinella spp. in brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Hokkaido, and Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) from three prefectures (Aomori, Akita, and Iwate) in northern Japan, between April 2019 and August 2022. Trichinella larvae were detected in 2.5% (6/236) of the brown bears and 0.9% (1/117) of the Japanese black bears. Sequence analysis using two genetic loci, the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, revealed that the larvae collected from the seven infected bears were identical to one of the two haplotypes of Trichinella T9. The prevalence of Trichinella T9 is low but is maintained in bears in the Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures suggesting that undercooked meat from these animals could cause human infection. Thus, continued health education campaigns are needed to raise awareness of the potential risk of trichinellosis among hunters, meat suppliers, consumers, and local governmental health agencies.

Demographic Parameters of Asian Black Bears in Central Japan

Demographic Parameters of Asian Black Bears in Central Japan

Conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination caused by carnivorous seed dispersers.

Plants produce nutritious, fleshy fruits that attract various animals to facilitate seed dispersal and recruitment dynamic. Species-specific differential selection of seed size by multiple frugivorous disperser assemblages may affect the subsequent germination of the ingested seeds. However, there is little empirical evidence supporting this association. In the present study, we documented conflicting selection pressures exerted on seed size and germination by five frugivorous carnivores on a mammal-dispersed pioneer tree, the date-plum persimmon (Diospyros lotus), in a subtropical forest. Fecal analyses revealed that these carnivores acted as primary seed dispersers of D. lotus. We also observed that seed sizes were selected based on body mass and were species-specific, confirming the "gape limitation" hypothesis; three small carnivores (the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, and Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata) significantly preferred to disperse smaller seeds in comparison with control seeds obtained directly from wild plants whereas the largest Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) ingested larger seeds. Seeds dispersed by medium-sized hog badgers (Arctonyx albogularis) were not significantly different from control seeds. However, regarding the influence of gut passage on seed germination, three arboreal dispersal agents (martens, civets, and bears) enhanced germination success whereas terrestrial species (ferret-badgers and hog badgers) inhibited the germination process compared with undigested control seeds. These conflicting selection pressures on seed size and germination may enhance the heterogeneity of germination dynamics and thus increase species fitness through diversification of the regeneration niche. Our results advance our understanding of seed dispersal mechanisms and have important implications for forest recruitment and ecosystem dynamics.

Altitudinal distribution and seasonal migration of asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in kaghan and Siran Valleys, Pakistan

The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is considered one of the largest carnivores inhabiting different territories including coniferous and broad-leaved forests, extending from sea level to the elevation of 4300 m. The Kaghan and Siran Valleys in Pakistan's District Mansehra were the location of the current study. To evaluate the altitudinal distribution and seasonal movement of Asiatic black bears in the region, we used three approaches (sign distribution survey, questionnaire-based survey, and scat collecting). A total of 1858 bear signs were observed during the field survey, the highest number of signs was dig marks (1213) followed by plant uprooting. Dig marks (MER: 7.574) were observed repeatedly in each potential site of both valleys followed by plant uprooting (MER: 1.594). Similarly, the altitudinal distribution of black bears was determined through the frequency of signs concerning elevation (m). Elevation of the study area ranged from 1300 to 3500 m and the most abundant population was recorded at the elevation of 2501–3000 m followed by 2001–2500 m. About 52% of local communities encountered black bears during the summer season in the field followed by Spring (23%.8) and winter (15.3%). Manshi Reserver forest (24.5%) from Kaghan and Panjul Reserve forest (31.6) from Siran Valley are the potential summer migratory spots. Eleven scat samples were collected with a 0.103 encounter rate (ER). Most of the scats (about 70%) were observed within the maize crop field in the summer season at low elevation, while just 30% of the scat was observed in the winter season in the forest.

Encounter of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) from the Low Elevated Area of District Battagram, Pakistan

Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is widely distributed in various countries of Asia including different areas of Pakistan such as District Mansehra, Swat, Kohistan, Battagram, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The present research was conducted in District Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan where new and abundant evidence of the Asiatic Black bear was reported. Data were collected during field reports, questionnaire-based surveys and oral interviews, and discussions with the local community from March 2022 to December 2022. The black bear was encountered by local peoples at a low elevated area (1259 m) of Jesol village (N 34o 41' 53" E 73o 03' 05") and was killed collectively (May 12, 2022). During such an encounter, a young man was also injured in conflict. Within one day, local people carried every part of the bear’s body and left the remaining skeleton. The wildlife department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took immediate action against the involved people. Similarly, the second black bear was also observed in the same village after one week but this time local people did not take any action against the black bear due to strict enforcement of wildlife law implemented by the wildlife department. On the other hand, questionnaire-based surveys and oral interviews were conducted in different areas of Battagram such as Baliga, Chail, and Shumlai about the black bear population. According to the perception of the local community, a quite good population of bears n=14 (6 males, 4 females, and 4 cubs) are present in the entire district. During the field survey, bear signs were also observed in Balija Mountain such as pug marks, track routing in snow, scat samples, and setting place. Bone samples collected from a killed black bear will be genetically identified for further genotypic study. The black bear population could be conserved by the strict implementation of rules and regulations by the government and conservation agencies. Awareness among the local community also plays an important in black bear conservation.

Formerly bile-farmed bears as a model of accelerated ageing

Bear bile-farming is common in East and Southeast Asia and this farming practice often results in irreversible health outcomes for the animals. We studied long-term effects of chronic bacterial and sterile hepatobiliary inflammation in 42 Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rescued from Vietnamese bile farms. The bears were examined under anesthesia at least twice as part of essential medical interventions. All bears were diagnosed with chronic low-grade sterile or bacterial hepatobiliary inflammation along with pathologies from other systems. Our main finding was that the chronic low-grade inflammatory environment associated with bile extraction in conjunction with the suboptimal living conditions on the farms promoted and accelerated the development of age-related pathologies such as chronic kidney disease, obese sarcopenia, cardiovascular remodeling, and degenerative joint disease. Through a biomimetic approach, we identified similarities with inflammation related to premature aging in humans and found significant deviations from the healthy ursid phenotype. The pathological parallels with inflammageing and immuno-senescence induced conditions in humans suggest that bile-farmed bears may serve as animal models to investigate pathophysiology and deleterious effects of lifestyle-related diseases.

Forced sympatry? Spatiotemporal interactions of ursids, the Himalayan brown bear and the Asiatic black bear, along a gradient of anthropic disturbances in Western Himalaya

AbstractThe coexistence of species with similar ecological niches implies that species must segregate along one or more niche axes in order to avoid competition. Partitioning of time, space, or resources is an essential niche dimension along which competitor species tend to coexist. The intensity of interspecific competition may vary under varying anthropogenic pressures, but such knowledge is scarce. We investigated the co‐occurrence patterns of two bear species, Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus and Himalayan Brown Bear Ursus arctos isabellinus, at two sites in the Western Himalayan region of India with similar ecological conditions and varying anthropogenic pressures. Camera trap datasets from the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh and the Bhagirathi basin in Uttarakhand were used to assess the species interactions. We used two species interaction models and kernel density estimates to understand the co‐occurrence pattern of the bear species and their interactions with humans. Our results provide insights into the spatiotemporal behavior of the two bear species and reveal their sympatric and allopatric relationships in two different anthropogenic environments. We found (1) a prominent association between the two bear species (98%) indicating spatial overlap in GHNP, but found spatial separation among the two species (93%) in Bhagirathi basin (2). In GHNP, the spatially co‐occurring bear species were found to be temporarily segregated, whereas in Bhagirathi, they showed spatial avoidance and similar activity patterns (3). In GHNP, human activities in the alpine habitat had a significant negative impact on brown bear presence. The comparative study revealed that the brown bear uses the forested habitats of GHNP due to high anthropogenic disturbances in the alpine areas, whereas no spatial association was observed in the Bhagirathi basin with comparatively low anthropogenic disturbances. The results highlight that, in addition to biological factors, anthropogenic pressures can also influence interspecific competition.

Ecological response of an umbrella species to changing climate and land use: Habitat conservation for Asiatic black bear in the Sichuan-Chongqing Region, Southwestern China.

Climate and land use changes are increasingly recognized as major threats to global biodiversity, with significant impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems worldwide. The study of how climate and land use changes impact wildlife is of paramount importance for advancing our understanding of ecological processes in the face of global environmental change, informing conservation planning and management, and identifying the mechanisms and thresholds that underlie species' responses to shifting climatic conditions. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is a prominent umbrella species in a biodiversity hotspot in Southwestern China, and its conservation is vital for safeguarding sympatric species. However, the extent to which this species' habitat may respond to global climate and land use changes is poorly understood, underscoring the need for further investigation. Our goal was to anticipate the potential impacts of upcoming climate and land use changes on the distribution and dispersal patterns of the Asiatic black bear in the Sichuan-Chongqing Region. We used MaxEnt modeling to evaluate habitat vulnerability using three General Circulation Models (GCMs) and three scenarios of climate and land use changes. Subsequently, we used Circuit Theory to identify prospective dispersal paths. Our results revealed that the current area of suitable habitat for the Asiatic black bear was 225,609.59 km2 (comprising 39.69% of the total study area), but was expected to decrease by -53.1%, -49.48%, and -28.55% under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 projection scenarios, respectively. Across all three GCMs, the distribution areas and dispersal paths of the Asiatic black bear were projected to shift to higher altitudes and constrict by the 2070s. Furthermore, the results indicated that the density of dispersal paths would decrease, while the resistance to dispersal would increase across the study area. In order to protect the Asiatic black bear, it is essential to prioritize the protection of climate refugia and dispersal paths. Our findings provide a sound scientific foundation for the allocation of such protected areas in the Sichuan-Chongqing Region that are both effective and adaptive in the face of ongoing global climate and land use changes.