Human-Bear Conflict Mitigation

Objective: To protect and provide medical aid to as many bears in the country vulnerable to man-bear conflict situations, poaching and other threats, as possible.

Scope:

• It is still critical that our anti-poaching efforts continue. Even with minimal demand for ‘dancing’ bears, Sloth Bear cubs are still being poached for use in Chinese medicines and gourmet cuisine in South-East Asia.
• This ongoing poaching, combined with habitat encroachment, continues to pose a serious threat to an already depleting population in the Indian subcontinent.
• Wildlife SOS has in the last decade successfully carried out many rescue operations in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, where these bears are often found injured in snare traps or with bullet shots by poachers.
• Over the years Asiatic Black bears and Himalayan Brown bears have increasingly fallen victim to the human-wildlife conflict situation in Jammu & Kashmir due to large-scale deforestation along with threats due to militancy and poaching for fur, claws and organs.
• Wildlife SOS works closely with the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department and the Forest department in an effort to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict situation in the state.

Location/Region: Pan India

Milestones:

• Protected hundreds of bears from conflict situations such as gunshot wounds, jaw traps, mob fury etc.
• A rescue team is on the standby 24×7 to drive to required locations in order to provide immediate medical care.
• In cases where on site medical care is not sufficient, the bear is brought back to the centre for specialised treatment in the animal hospital.

Project Needs: 

• Safety equipment for rescuers.
• Vehicles for enabling faster operations.
• Expansion of team at centre to enable more than one rescue at a time.

Other Collaborating Groups: Karnataka Forest Department, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department & Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Department.