Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary is situated in the Banaskantha district
in the Indian state of Gujarat at the Gujarat-Rajasthan
border. It was declared as a sanctuary in May 1978, covering an area of about 180 square kilometre, principally for protection of the sloth bear
, which is now categorized as "Vulnerable A2cd+4cd;C1 ver 3.1" as per IUCN red list. Their numbers is declining in the wild and are threatened with extinction.
The name "sloth" is said to be the epithet travellers and hunters in India gave to the bear when they saw it hanging upside down from branches of trees and consequently they identified it with sloth
, an animal that hangs upside down. While it is now known as Sloth Bear, initially it was called 'Bear Sloth' since the game hunters identified this species with the Sloth
of South America
as the physical characteristics and “arboreal” habits of both species matched. Towards the later part of the 18th Century, its scientific name was Ursine bradypus or Ursiform Sloth or Bradypus ursinus. But when in early 19th Century, the Sloth Bear, housed in a zoo in France
, was examined, scientists identified it correctly as a bear species and thereafter the name was changed from 'Bear Sloth' to "Sloth Bear". Jessore hill, which is the back drop to the sanctuary, is also prefixed to form the full name "Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary".
Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India
, Forest Department of Gujarat, well known Institutes and Universities of the country, stakeholders and local communities in and around the project area have been engaged in Conservation and Sustainable Management of Dryland Biodiversity of North Gujarat under a GEF
/UNDP supported project with the objective of conservation of globally significant biodiversity. The two projects identified under the programme, as demonstration project sites were the Jessore and Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuaries. The information gathered under this project in respect of the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary has enhanced the information base and is expected to help in building local establishments to adopt novel ideas to resolve the threats faced by the sanctuary.
. It was declared a sanctuary covering an area of 180.66 square kilometre in 1978. The sanctuary area lies between the desert ecosystem and the dry deciduous type of ecosystem, and the forested area helps in arresting desertification and advancement of Thar desert
.
The nearest airport is Ahmedabad
is 190 kilometres (118.1 mi) away. Nearest Railway station is at Palanpur
, 45 kilometres (28 mi) away and Iqbalgarh village is at 8 kilometres (5 mi) distance. The Sanctuary also houses two temples (one of them is the Kedarnath Mahadev temple), which are frequented by a large number of pilgrims during October–November, and a protected sacred grove.
The vegetation in the sanctuary consists of arid to semiarid and dry deciduous thorny scrub.
A UNDP sponsored study of the Flora
of the sanctuary has identified 406 species of plants (90 trees, 47 shrubs, 33 climbers, 194 herbs, 31 grasses, six pteridophytes, two bryophytes, one epiphyte, and two fungi). A further analysis indicates that the families of tree species are 13, shrubs 15, herbs 11 and climbers 13. Some of the species reportedly belong to the threatened category as per IUCN; these are: Pavonia arabica, Tecomella undulata
, Capparis cartilaginea, Dendrocalamus strictus, Sterculia urens and Silver Date Palm
and Ceropegia odorata, an endangered species. Six endemic species to India recorded are ogeissus sericea, chlorophytum borivilianum
, Sterculia urens, Tecomella undulata, Silver Date Palm and Dendrocalamus strictus. Further, 89 plants are recorded to have medicinal properties.
However, forest area is reportedly diminishing, and the corridor with hill area forests of Aravalli is also reducing, disrupting the migration of the bears. As a result, forest areas are reported only in patches. Prosopis juliflora
called locally as gando baval has become the dominant vegetation affecting spread of local species, growth of goat and cattle population and forest fires; about 40 per cent of the green cover in the lower areas and 20 per cent in hilly regions are covered by this weed.
Fauna
Apart from sloth bear, other fauna reported in the sanctuary are leopard
, sambar, blue bull, wild boar, porcupine
, and a variety of birds.
Other endangered species harboured by the sanctuary are jungle cat, civet, caracal, wolf and hyena.
The faunal study by UNDP covered the herpetofaunal group. 14 species of amphibians and reptiles have been recorded here; the list includes Indian Python
(Python molurus) an endangered species, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle
(Lissemys punctata) of vulnerable category and Muggar
(Crocodylus palustris) and Varanus
(Varanus bengalensis) of endangered category. Threats faced by these species have been noted as water shortage, traffic, and hunting by snake charmers.
Reptiles found also include cobra
, krait
, several types of viper
and monitor lizard
.
Avifauna
Studies of avifauna
in the sanctuary revealed 105 species, including migratory birds. The list includes: four near threatened category birds comprising Grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii), White-bellied Minivet
(Pericrocotus erythropygus), Indian Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) and Painted stork
(Mycturia leucocephala); the Vulnerable category (as per IUCN Red List) are White-winged Black Tit
(Parus nuchalis), Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans), Indian White-rumped Vulture
(Gyps Bengalensis), Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Red-headed Vulture
(Sarcogyps calvus) and Red-necked Falcon
(Falco chicquera).
Mammalian fauna
20 species of mammalian fauna have been identified. Of these Indian Pangolin
(Manis crassicaudata) and Sloth bear
(Melursus ursinus) are near threatened and vulnerable respectively.
Sloth bear
Sloth bear is an animal found in many parts of Asia
including Nepal
, Sri Lanka
, Bhutan
and Bangladesh
. Two subspecies have been recognized namely, the Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus) and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
(Melursus ursinus inornatus).
Sloth bear is omnivorous, black and dark brown in colour with an yellowish patch on the chest, has large feet and claws, as tall as 5–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m), heavy in size (males weigh 175–310 lb (79.4–140.6 kg), females 120–210 lb (54.4–95.3 kg)), runs as fast as humans and has a long muzzle. Their habitats can be dry forest or wet rain forest or grass lands with shrubs trees and stones. They eat insects, their favourite is termites, live on fruits (mangoes and figs), grass and honey. Fifty percent of their diet is fruits during March to June, and termites and other insects the rest of the time. They have high sensory perception. It is the only bear with long hair on the ears. Its life span is estimated as 25 years.
Study has established that the Sloth Bear prefers biodiversity zones in the sanctuary that are rich in fruit trees, such as Ficus glomerata and Diospyros melanoxylon
(rich sweet fruits), and the presence of honey, ants, and termites.
The threats faced by the sanctuary, and the Sloth bear in particular, are: the disappearing forests due to anthropogenic and cattle pressures; destruction of termite hills (source of favourite food for the bear) by humans, capturing for training to perform in circuses (they are popular as "dancing bears"), travelling shows and fairs. Poaching and trade in sloth bears or their parts has also been reported. Even the cubs are captured and removed from the sanctuary.
The UNDP study has also listed threats to avifauna as deterioration of the habitat, overgrazing, quarrying (which causes noise pollution and dust), damage to ground vegetation by the invasive Prosopis juliflora
, scarcity of water, hunting, and anthropogenic pressure resulting in habitat destruction.
However, threat from the sloth bears is also reported to people and crops. The human-sloth bear conflict was scientifically examined for one year (between June 2007 and July 2008 in Jessore Sanctuary and also in the Mount Abu Sanctuary
, which revealed that there were human casualties due to attack by bears. Thirty such attacks on humans (more on males) in the forest, villages and crop fields were reported during the study period, with summer season recording the maximum number followed by monsoon and winter. Crop damage of varying degree by bears was also reported. This has caused fear among the villagers. However, under these conditions of threat to life and crops, the bears may be killed under the law to protect life or property.
To address the human-bear conflict it has been suggested that people may be educated about the conservation ethics, particularly among locals. It is suggested that, to resolve this conflict the basic issue of deteriorating habitat, which is the reason for the conflict between people and bears, improvements through government or community-based reforestation programmes may be promoted.
It has also been noted that the population of sloth bears grows when they live in high profile reserves that protect species, such as tigers and elephants. It has been recommended that directly managed reserves would conserve the sloth bear and hence such reserves must be supported.
Government of India has banned use of sloth bear for entertainment and there is also a 'Sloth Bear Welfare Project' in the country with the objective of putting an end to the use of sloth bears for entertainment. However, their number in such activity is still large. Many organizations are helping in the conservation and preservation of sloth bears in safe places.
Proposals to create a biological corridor of four protected areas in the Aravalli hills as conservation area namely, the Jessore and Balaram Ambaji in Gujarat in Banskantha
and Sabarkantha
, and Mt. Abu and Fulwar-Ki-Nar in the districts of Udaipur
and Sirohi
in Rajasthan
to be developed as multiple use zones, have been mooted since all these are sanctuaries for sloth bear. Community participation is also suggested in this plan.
Banaskantha district
Banaskantha is one among the twenty-six districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city...
in the Indian state of Gujarat at the Gujarat-Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
border. It was declared as a sanctuary in May 1978, covering an area of about 180 square kilometre, principally for protection of the sloth bear
Sloth Bear
The sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
, which is now categorized as "Vulnerable A2cd+4cd;C1 ver 3.1" as per IUCN red list. Their numbers is declining in the wild and are threatened with extinction.
The name "sloth" is said to be the epithet travellers and hunters in India gave to the bear when they saw it hanging upside down from branches of trees and consequently they identified it with sloth
Sloth
Sloths are the six species of medium-sized mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae , part of the order Pilosa and therefore related to armadillos and anteaters, which sport a similar set of specialized claws.They are arboreal residents of the jungles of Central and South...
, an animal that hangs upside down. While it is now known as Sloth Bear, initially it was called 'Bear Sloth' since the game hunters identified this species with the Sloth
Sloth
Sloths are the six species of medium-sized mammals belonging to the families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae , part of the order Pilosa and therefore related to armadillos and anteaters, which sport a similar set of specialized claws.They are arboreal residents of the jungles of Central and South...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as the physical characteristics and “arboreal” habits of both species matched. Towards the later part of the 18th Century, its scientific name was Ursine bradypus or Ursiform Sloth or Bradypus ursinus. But when in early 19th Century, the Sloth Bear, housed in a zoo in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, was examined, scientists identified it correctly as a bear species and thereafter the name was changed from 'Bear Sloth' to "Sloth Bear". Jessore hill, which is the back drop to the sanctuary, is also prefixed to form the full name "Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary".
Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, Forest Department of Gujarat, well known Institutes and Universities of the country, stakeholders and local communities in and around the project area have been engaged in Conservation and Sustainable Management of Dryland Biodiversity of North Gujarat under a GEF
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues....
/UNDP supported project with the objective of conservation of globally significant biodiversity. The two projects identified under the programme, as demonstration project sites were the Jessore and Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuaries. The information gathered under this project in respect of the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary has enhanced the information base and is expected to help in building local establishments to adopt novel ideas to resolve the threats faced by the sanctuary.
Geography
The sanctuary is located in the Jessore hills of Aravalli hills, to the north of the Thar desertThar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
. It was declared a sanctuary covering an area of 180.66 square kilometre in 1978. The sanctuary area lies between the desert ecosystem and the dry deciduous type of ecosystem, and the forested area helps in arresting desertification and advancement of Thar desert
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
.
The nearest airport is Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
is 190 kilometres (118.1 mi) away. Nearest Railway station is at Palanpur
Palanpur
Palanpur is a city and a municipality of Banaskantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Palanpur is the largest city and the administrative headquarters of the district....
, 45 kilometres (28 mi) away and Iqbalgarh village is at 8 kilometres (5 mi) distance. The Sanctuary also houses two temples (one of them is the Kedarnath Mahadev temple), which are frequented by a large number of pilgrims during October–November, and a protected sacred grove.
Flora and fauna
FloraThe vegetation in the sanctuary consists of arid to semiarid and dry deciduous thorny scrub.
A UNDP sponsored study of the Flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
of the sanctuary has identified 406 species of plants (90 trees, 47 shrubs, 33 climbers, 194 herbs, 31 grasses, six pteridophytes, two bryophytes, one epiphyte, and two fungi). A further analysis indicates that the families of tree species are 13, shrubs 15, herbs 11 and climbers 13. Some of the species reportedly belong to the threatened category as per IUCN; these are: Pavonia arabica, Tecomella undulata
Tecomella undulata
Tecomella undulata is tree species, locally known as Rohida, found in Thar Desert regions of northwest and western India. It is a medium sized tree that produces quality timber and is the main source of timber amongst the indigenous tree species of desert regions of Shekhawati and Marwar in Rajasthan...
, Capparis cartilaginea, Dendrocalamus strictus, Sterculia urens and Silver Date Palm
Phoenix sylvestris
Phoenix sylvestris also known as Silver Date Palm or Sugar Date Palm, is a species of flowering plant in the palm family native to southern Pakistan,most of India and Bangladesh. Growing in plains and scrubland to 1300 m, the fruit from this palm species is used to make wine and jelly...
and Ceropegia odorata, an endangered species. Six endemic species to India recorded are ogeissus sericea, chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum
Chlorophytum is a genus of about 200-220 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia....
, Sterculia urens, Tecomella undulata, Silver Date Palm and Dendrocalamus strictus. Further, 89 plants are recorded to have medicinal properties.
However, forest area is reportedly diminishing, and the corridor with hill area forests of Aravalli is also reducing, disrupting the migration of the bears. As a result, forest areas are reported only in patches. Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora is a shrub or small tree native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It has become established as a weed in Asia, Australia and elsewhere. Its uses include forage, wood and environmental management. The tree grows to a height of up to and has a trunk with a diameter of...
called locally as gando baval has become the dominant vegetation affecting spread of local species, growth of goat and cattle population and forest fires; about 40 per cent of the green cover in the lower areas and 20 per cent in hilly regions are covered by this weed.
Fauna
Apart from sloth bear, other fauna reported in the sanctuary are leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, sambar, blue bull, wild boar, porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
, and a variety of birds.
Other endangered species harboured by the sanctuary are jungle cat, civet, caracal, wolf and hyena.
The faunal study by UNDP covered the herpetofaunal group. 14 species of amphibians and reptiles have been recorded here; the list includes Indian Python
Indian Python
Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python, black-tailed python, and Indian rock python. Two subspecies are currently recognized: the nominate subspecies and the Burmese...
(Python molurus) an endangered species, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle
Lissemys punctata
Indian flapshell turtle is a fresh water species of turtle found in South Asia. The “Flap-shelled” name stems from the presence of femoral flaps that are located on the plastron. These flaps of skin serve the purpose of covering the limbs when they retract into the shell. It is unclear what...
(Lissemys punctata) of vulnerable category and Muggar
Mugger Crocodile
The mugger crocodile , also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries...
(Crocodylus palustris) and Varanus
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
(Varanus bengalensis) of endangered category. Threats faced by these species have been noted as water shortage, traffic, and hunting by snake charmers.
Reptiles found also include cobra
Cobra
Cobra is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family. The name is short for cobra capo or capa Snake, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake"...
, krait
Bungarus
Bungarus, commonly referred to as kraits , is a genus of venomous elapid snakes found in South and South-East Asia. There are 12 species and 5 subspecies recognized.- Distribution :...
, several types of viper
Viperidae
The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii, various other isolated islands, and above the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four...
and monitor lizard
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
.
Avifauna
Studies of avifauna
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the sanctuary revealed 105 species, including migratory birds. The list includes: four near threatened category birds comprising Grey jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii), White-bellied Minivet
White-bellied Minivet
The White-bellied Minivet is a species of minivet found in India, mostly in dry deciduous forest.The species is characterized by stable population trend and extent of occurrence of more than 20 thousand km2....
(Pericrocotus erythropygus), Indian Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) and Painted stork
Painted Stork
The Painted Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in South Asia and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters...
(Mycturia leucocephala); the Vulnerable category (as per IUCN Red List) are White-winged Black Tit
White-winged Black Tit
The White-winged Black Tit Parus leucomelas, also known as the White-winged Tit, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is found in central Africa, from Angola in the west to Ethiopia in the east....
(Parus nuchalis), Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans), Indian White-rumped Vulture
Indian White-rumped Vulture
The White-rumped Vulture is an Old World vulture closely related to the European Griffon Vulture . At one time it was believed to be closer to the White-backed Vulture of Africa and was known as the Oriental White-backed Vulture...
(Gyps Bengalensis), Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Red-headed Vulture
Red-headed Vulture
The Red-headed Vulture , also known as the Asian King Vulture, Indian Black Vulture or Pondicherry Vulture,-Description:...
(Sarcogyps calvus) and Red-necked Falcon
Red-necked Falcon
The Red-necked Falcon or Red-headed Merlin is a bird of prey in the falcon family. This bird is a widespread resident in India and adjacent regions as well as sub-Saharan Africa. It is sometimes called Turumti locally....
(Falco chicquera).
Mammalian fauna
20 species of mammalian fauna have been identified. Of these Indian Pangolin
Indian Pangolin
The Indian Pangolin or ”Scaly Ant-eater” is a pangolin that is found in the plains and hills of India, Sri Lanka,Nepal and some parts of Pakistan. It is not common anywhere in its range....
(Manis crassicaudata) and Sloth bear
Sloth Bear
The sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
(Melursus ursinus) are near threatened and vulnerable respectively.
Sloth bear
Sloth bear is an animal found in many parts of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
including Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Two subspecies have been recognized namely, the Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus) and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is a subspecies of the Sloth Bear. It is found mainly in lowland dry forests in the Island of Sri Lanka....
(Melursus ursinus inornatus).
Sloth bear is omnivorous, black and dark brown in colour with an yellowish patch on the chest, has large feet and claws, as tall as 5–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m), heavy in size (males weigh 175–310 lb (79.4–140.6 kg), females 120–210 lb (54.4–95.3 kg)), runs as fast as humans and has a long muzzle. Their habitats can be dry forest or wet rain forest or grass lands with shrubs trees and stones. They eat insects, their favourite is termites, live on fruits (mangoes and figs), grass and honey. Fifty percent of their diet is fruits during March to June, and termites and other insects the rest of the time. They have high sensory perception. It is the only bear with long hair on the ears. Its life span is estimated as 25 years.
Study has established that the Sloth Bear prefers biodiversity zones in the sanctuary that are rich in fruit trees, such as Ficus glomerata and Diospyros melanoxylon
Diospyros melanoxylon
Coromandel Ebony or East Indian Ebony is a species of flowering tree in the family Ebenaceae that is native to India and Sri Lanka....
(rich sweet fruits), and the presence of honey, ants, and termites.
Threats
The UNDP study has also listed threats to avifauna as deterioration of the habitat, overgrazing, quarrying (which causes noise pollution and dust), damage to ground vegetation by the invasive Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora is a shrub or small tree native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It has become established as a weed in Asia, Australia and elsewhere. Its uses include forage, wood and environmental management. The tree grows to a height of up to and has a trunk with a diameter of...
, scarcity of water, hunting, and anthropogenic pressure resulting in habitat destruction.
However, threat from the sloth bears is also reported to people and crops. The human-sloth bear conflict was scientifically examined for one year (between June 2007 and July 2008 in Jessore Sanctuary and also in the Mount Abu Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
, which revealed that there were human casualties due to attack by bears. Thirty such attacks on humans (more on males) in the forest, villages and crop fields were reported during the study period, with summer season recording the maximum number followed by monsoon and winter. Crop damage of varying degree by bears was also reported. This has caused fear among the villagers. However, under these conditions of threat to life and crops, the bears may be killed under the law to protect life or property.
Conservation
Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 provides for legal protection of sloth bears. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as per list in Appendix I prohibits International trade of sloth bear.To address the human-bear conflict it has been suggested that people may be educated about the conservation ethics, particularly among locals. It is suggested that, to resolve this conflict the basic issue of deteriorating habitat, which is the reason for the conflict between people and bears, improvements through government or community-based reforestation programmes may be promoted.
It has also been noted that the population of sloth bears grows when they live in high profile reserves that protect species, such as tigers and elephants. It has been recommended that directly managed reserves would conserve the sloth bear and hence such reserves must be supported.
Government of India has banned use of sloth bear for entertainment and there is also a 'Sloth Bear Welfare Project' in the country with the objective of putting an end to the use of sloth bears for entertainment. However, their number in such activity is still large. Many organizations are helping in the conservation and preservation of sloth bears in safe places.
Proposals to create a biological corridor of four protected areas in the Aravalli hills as conservation area namely, the Jessore and Balaram Ambaji in Gujarat in Banskantha
Banaskantha district
Banaskantha is one among the twenty-six districts of the Gujarat state of India. The administrative headquarters of the district is at Palanpur which is also its largest city...
and Sabarkantha
Sabarkantha district
Sabarkantha is a district in Northeast of Gujarat state of India.-Geography:The administrative headquarters of the district is Himmatnagar, about 80 km from Ahmedabad....
, and Mt. Abu and Fulwar-Ki-Nar in the districts of Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
and Sirohi
Sirohi
Sirohi is a city in southern Rajasthan state in western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sirohi District, and was formerly the capital of the princely state of the same name. Nearest railway station to Sirohi is Sirohi Road station.-Geography:...
in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
to be developed as multiple use zones, have been mooted since all these are sanctuaries for sloth bear. Community participation is also suggested in this plan.