Negative interactions between humans and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in northern Pakistan

• Published in: Conservation science and practice 2022-11, Vol.4 (11), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Ali, Abid, Uz Zaman, Iftikhar, Omer, Talha, Ahmad, Shakeel, López‐Bao, José Vicente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Animal populations; Asiatic black bear; Bears; Crop damage; Economic impact; human–wildlife conflicts; Impact analysis; Interviews; Livestock; livestock predation; Natural resources; Poaching; Questionnaires; retaliatory killing; Risk reduction; Rural areas; Rural communities; Ursus thibetanus; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 2578-4854; 2578-4854
• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12816

The conservation of the vulnerable Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Pakistan is challenged by retaliatory killing, driven by negative interactions between people and bears, such as livestock depredation. We distributed a questionnaire among 369 individuals in rural communities within the Mansehra District, Pakistan, where bear retaliatory killings are often reported. We focused on human–Asiatic black bear negative interactions, such as livestock depredations, crop damage, and human injuries occurring between 2015 and 2019. Although the number of livestock depredation events was small in absolute terms (an average of 11.5 livestock heads reported to be killed annually), it had a large estimated economic impact in terms of local economies ($1367 per year, or a total of $5.469 between 2015 and 2019). Such annual estimated costs account for 93% of the per capita gross domestic product for Pakistan, roughly equivalent to $55,853 for a US citizen. Additionally, 30 incidents between people and bears were registered, where 6% human were fatal. We recommend awareness campaigns on different mitigating interventions, and training on how to use them, as well as behaviors to reduce the risk of negative interactions. Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are a vulnerable species, yet their conservation is challenged by the continuation of retaliatory killing, mainly motivated by bear attacks on people and damages on livestock that occur frequently in rural areas. In this report, we distributed a questionnaire among 369 individuals in rural communities of the District Mansehra, Pakistan, where retaliatory killings are often reported. Most of the respondents (71%) believed that Asiatic black bears are the primary species driving negative interactions between humans and carnivores, such as livestock depredations, crop damages, and mauling of people. Interviewees reported a total of 30 attacks on people between 2015 and 2019, where 6% were fatal. Although livestock depredation was low in absolute numbers (an average of 11.5 heads per year), it had a large estimated economic impact of $1367 per year, or a total of $5.469. This cost is 93% of the per capita gross domestic product for Pakistan, equivalent to $55,853 to a US citizen. Conflicts associated to the presence of bears in this area have increased recently. More information on why conflicts are increasing and how to prevent conflicts are needed to facilitate coexistence and allow the persistence of Asiatic bla