Sloth bear surprise for experts in Mirzapur forests

LUCKNOW: It was a delightful surprise for wildlife enthusiasts after a camera trap survey found the presence of sloth bears in Mirzapur forest division, a discovery that exceeded their expectations.
The first-of-its-kind camera trap survey was done by an environment and wildlife research foundation based in the region.

The sloth bear is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is protected under Schedule (I) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.This means the bear has absolute protection and any offence will invite the highest penalty.
Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation (VENHF), that put up 15 cameras at about 50 points in three forest ranges, found at least 24 other wildlife species in the region. Many of these were protected animals not recorded in Mirzapur before this.
These included leopard, Asiatic wild cat, rusty spotted cat, Indian wolf, Indian gazelle, blackbuck, peafowl, Bengal monitor lizard and mugger crocodile.
Other important species recorded were striped hyena, jungle cat, red fox, golden jackal, ruddy mongoose and red jungle fowl.The survey was done from May to July in 2018.
Now, the group has proposed to the forest department that a conservation reserve for sloth bear be declared in Mirzapur.
“We have submitted our report, which we published this month, to the state forest and wildlife department. Through our report we also propose a conservation reserve in Mirzapur for sloth bear,” said Debadityo Sinha, one of the lead authors.
The report has been co-authored by DFO, Mirzapur, Rakesh Chaudhary.
The camera trap survey was done mainly in four of the eight ranges of Mirzapur forest division: Marihan, Sukrit, Chunar and some parts of Lalganj. “We are proposing the conservation reserve in these ranges. The total area of the reserve is about 408 sq km,” said Sinha.
The National Bear Conservation and Welfare Action Plan, published by the Union ministry of environment and forests in 2012, has already recognized Mirzapur forest division as an important sloth bear habitat. The report highlighted a threat to the species because of mining and increasing anthropogenic pressures. It also showed the sloth bear population to be declining in the region.
Wildlife census by the state forest department from time to time confirms the same. Wildlife estimates for 2011 and 2013 showed at least 46% decline.
“Many of these animals are elusive and nocturnal. They may not have been recorded in the census because of their nature and behaviour,” said Sinha.