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CONCLUSION

The tribal communities residing in
central Gujarat heavily rely on forest-
based activities, and it is a common
practice for them to visit the forest for
several purposes like, forest produce

collection, fuelwood, travel, grazing and
farming which results in frequent
encounters with sloth bears. The rise in
the number of sightings and attacks
within the farms and villages indicate
degradation of habitat that forces the
bears to move towards human
settlements. The primary reasons for such
encounters and attacks are visiting the
forest alone, especially during dusk and
dawn. The frequent news of attacks in
the surrounding villages has influenced the responses of the
locals, who perceive sloth bears as a threat and have a

negative attitude towards them due to fear. The lack of
knowledge about the sloth bear and its behavior is also a
contributing factor to bear attacks. Therefore, our awareness
programmes that are specific to sloth bears, bear safety
education programmes in the villages and schools near sloth
bear habitat might prove effective to promote coexistence
between the human and sloth bear and help in reducing the
number of sloth bear attacks. The focus on restoring
fragmented areas by planting fruiting tree species, sensitizing
people about sloth bear conservation, informing them about
the compensation schemes provided by the government, and
promoting the use of constructed toilets and solar panels
along with other alternative livelihoods can help reduce the
dependency of local communities on the forest, ultimately

leading to a reduction in conflicts with sloth bears. In
conclusion, it is crucial to implement a multi-faceted
approach that involves educating communities, enhancing
the capacity of field staff to monitor sloth bears, restoring
sloth bear habitat, and promoting alternative livelihoods to
ensure the safety of both humans and sloth bears in central © Shalu Mesaria
Gujarat.
65 Sloth bear Conservation Education Programme 66 Sloth bear Conservation Education Programme
WCB Research Foundation WCB Research Foundation