Conservation Implications
We show that sloth bears are widespread but elusive in CNP whose
detection and occupancy is influenced by a range of variables. Landscape
features like ruggedness change over decades, however, habitat variables
like tree cover, vegetation productivity as well as the availability of
fruits and insects change over short time periods. While generalist
species may adapt to such changes, specific feeding and habitat
requirements of sloth bears make it more vulnerable. Changes
particularly loss and fragmentation of habitat can have long-term
genetic consequences through loss of genetic diversity and population
decline (Murphy et al.2017; Thatte et al. 2020; Dutta et al. 2015).
Furthermore, studies have shown decline of sympatric carnivores where
conservation are focused on revival of single species such as tigers
(Jhala et al. 2020; Li et al. 2020). Tigers and sloth bear co-occur in
Nepal where the former’s population has almost doubled since 2009 (DNPWC
&DFSC, 2018) Direct threats on its population through predation by
tigers (Joshi et al. 1999) might be low, however indirect consequences
of habitat alteration due to tiger focused management can be expected.
Grassland habitat in the park is shrinking due to proliferation of
shrub, woody vegetation as well as invasive alien plants which is
already impacting grassland dependent species (Subedi et al. 2017;
Murphy et al. 2013). Intactness of the habitat and species’ abilities to
survive and reproduce is further challenged by anthropogenic pressure
which is exacerbated by the increasing impacts of climate changes (Pant
et al. 2020). The fate of this unique ursid, therefore, not only relies
on how it responds to the changing availability of insects, fruits and
habitat but also on how park managers respond through management
actions/inactions. Our study can serve as a general guidance to parks
and wildlife conservation authorities towards departure from incidental
conservation to active management of sloth bear population. Management
actions should be geared towards creation of suitable habitat such as
through creation of habitat mosaics with grasslands and patches of wild
fruits that enable sloth bears to access their main food throughout the
year and successfully reproduce. We suggest empirical multi-season
assessments of disturbance intensity and relative cost and benefits that
these disturbed and undisturbed habitats might provide for sloth bears
to enhance our understanding of sloth bear distribution and habitat use.
Furthermore, investigations on abundance of sloth bear as well as ground
dwelling and mound building termites, fruit trees and other insects is
required for a deeper understanding of ecological interactions and
behavioural responses of the sloth bear. Our findings when combined with
future knowledge generated from long-term experimental research and
monitoring of sloth bear can serve as a valuable baseline for
formulation of sloth bear conservation strategy and management plan.