Review on Conservation and Status of Bear in Pakistan

In Pakistan the Family Ursidae consists of 3 subspecies, viz., Baluchistan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus), Himalayan black bear (U. t. laniger) and Himalayan Brown Bear (U. arctos isalbellinus). Brown Bears are the more abundant group in northern latitudes including Chitral, Ghizer, Gilgit and Skardu areas. However, Black Bears distribution is frequent in southern latitudes Battagram. Moreover, both Brown and Black Bears are found in central latitudes like Astor, Diamir, Kohistan and Mansehra. There were 34 populations of Brown Bears; the largest one in the Deosai Plateau and small populations in other localities. Furthermore, there were 9 isolated meta-populations having common gene pools; 7 of them were very small facing serious inbreeding and extinction problems. However, Deosai and Diamir-Astor populations have a high inbreeding rate. There were about 45 localities of Black Bears; the largest of them found in Battagram. These were further subdivide into 6 meta-populations found in Kohistan-Batagram-Mansehra, Diamir-Astor and south Chitral, Thack, Hisper-Minipin and Chasma the first three are larger populations while the remaining three are with smaller having high inbreeding. Bears damage our standing maize crops as well as fruits. Average annual bears depredation of farm animals have also been noticed. Respondents reported 4 incidences of bear attack and 2 cases of cub poaching during 2013. The main objective of this review is analyze the habitat and distribution of bears as well as the possible threats and how to avoid them