Only about 17% of the estimated 17,000 km2 of sloth bear habitat in Nepal is effectively protected. The unprotected sloth bear populations are largely confined to the forests of Churia hills. In the eastern part of Churia range lies the Trijuga forest which was once a stronghold for sloth bears, but now faces unprecedented threats. Our extensive work over the past three years in this area has revealed high levels of human disturbance, resulting in low bear density, patchy distribution, and intense conflicts, pushing bears to the brink of local extinction. Having obtained baseline data, our challenge now is improving locals’ awareness, perceptions and ability to coexist harmoniously with sloth bears and foster support for conservation. This project is developed to address this challenge through (i) extensive awareness campaigns in local communities and schools, (ii)sensitization of local-level decision makers to include the needs of sloth bears in forest use/management guidelines, and (iii) empowerment of community forest members on sloth bear monitoring.By bridging the gap between scientific research and community engagement, our project offers a hope for the long-term survival of sloth bears in this critical habitat.
