Himalayan black bear | Bear census on for protection plan

Gangtok, Feb. 1.TT: A census on Himalayan black bear has started in the Sikkim forests as part of a nation-wide exercise for the proposed National Bear Conservation Plan.

The survey on the Himalayan black bear is being conducted by researchers engaged by the Japanese International Co-operation Agency. The animal is a highly endangered species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The bear conservation plan, proposed by the ministry of environment and forests, will be given a final shape at a seminar in New Delhi later this year.

“Researchers engaged by the Japanese International Co-operation Agency are preparing roughly the number of the animals in the Sikkim forests. They are being assisted by the Sikkim forest department. The animal count started in January and will be completed in February. The census report will be submitted to the forest department and it will be useful for the National Bear Conservation Plan,” said Gut Lepcha, the conservator of forests (wildlife).

The JICA has been implementing the Sikkim Bio-diversity Conservation and Forest Management project worth Rs 330.57 crore. The main components of the project are the afforestation of 4,300 hectares and the formulation of eco-tourism policies.

The agreement for the 10-year-long project had been signed between the Indian and Japanese governments in March 2010.

The surveyors will also find out the number of man-bear conflicts and the scale of crop damages by the animal.

“The JICA teams have fanned out to different forests in the state for the survey. Two teams are now in Phangolakha wildlife sanctuary in East Sikkim and Barsey rhododendron sanctuary in the West district to set up camera traps and record man-bear conflicts and the extent of crop damage by the animal,” said Lepcha.

The chief wildlife warden, Manjit Singh, said the census would be the first step towards the preparation of the bear conservation plan that would be discussed at a seminar in New Delhi.

“An international seminar will be organised by the ministry of environment and forests on the bear conservation plan in New Delhi. The conservation plan will be finalised at the seminar tentatively scheduled for November. The data on the bears are being collected from different states ahead of the seminar. The plan will be on the lines of the Project Tiger and huge funds will be released for the conservation and management of the bear,” said Singh.

The Sikkim foresters hope the census will go a long way in arresting the man-bear encounters which are on the rise in the state. “If the plan is launched, we will get huge funds for the bear conservation. We can take measures to keep the animal inside the forest,” said a forest officer.

On Monday, a 59-year-old farmer had been mauled by a bear at Chauridara, Lingee Payong in South Sikkim. Chandra Man Rai is undergoing treatment at STNM Hospital here and his medical expenses are being borne by the forest department.

“I was collecting fodder for cattle in a private holding on the fringes of the forest. I did not know that a bear was sleeping in a bush. It attacked me and caused injuries to the head, right hand and the chest,” said Rai.