Harmony and Discord: Unravelling Spatial Distribution and Seasonal Dynamics of Human-bear (Ursus thibetanus) Conflict in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim Himalaya

Abstract

Background: The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is a federally protected species facing conservation concerns due to habitat depletion, food and environment driven altitude migration and its conflicting domain with humans. This study, conducted in the Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim Himalaya, emphasizes the need to understand seasonal variations in bear ecology and human interactions. Methods: Field surveys for four seasons viz. Spring (April-June), Summer (July-September), Autumn (October-December) and Winter (January-March) and interviews in the fringe villages (2021-2023), human-bear conflict secondary data (2019-2022) and camera trap data (2016-2017) were analysed using the GIS and statistical tools, revealing specific spatial distribution and seasonal patterns of human-bear conflicts. Result: Bears in Sikkim’s Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, flourish mostly at 2200-2400 meter above mean sea level, in mixed temperate forests, exhibits bimodal activity and non-hibernating behaviour. Conflicts peak in summer and autumn, with 98.4% crop raiding on maize and livestock depredation peaking in autumn (p = less than 0.0001). Settlement proximity peaks in June-September (41%) and decreases in winter (59.9%). Locals rank bears as the primary threat (40.77%, rank 1). Understanding these dynamics informs conservation strategies for harmonious coexistence in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.