Insights on human-sloth bear conflict in and around eco-sensitive zone: Chhota Udepur, Gujarat, India

An ecologically sensitive zone and a non-protected forest in Chhota Udepur district together form a corridor between two wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat, India. The area has a high incidence of human-bear conflict, with 103 incidents recorded from 2008-2020, corresponding with a rise in the sloth bear ( Melursus ursinus) population. People rely on the forests for the collection of natural resources and often encounter wildlife, including sloth bears. Our study found that males (n = 73, 70.9%) were more frequently attacked by sloth bears than females. Encounters were high during the summer (n = 46, 44.6%) and the monsoon season (35.9%), with most attacks during the day. Interaction with sloth bears was highest in the forested areas (59.8%), followed by farms (34%) when locals were working. We recorded 7.9 (+/- 5.1 SD) bear attacks per year in the area. Our findings revealed that the temporal overlap between locals and sloth bears inside forests was the cause of conflicts. Regulation of human movement and bear safety education may reduce the attacks and mitigate the human-bear conflict in this important corridor within the sloth bear landscape in Gujarat.