IBA’s Research and Conservation (R&C) Grants fuel groundbreaking projects that directly impact bear populations and their habitats. These grants have helped track the movements of sloth bears in India to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, supported studies on climate change’s effects on polar bear denning sites, and funded genetic research to map the fragmented populations of Asiatic black bears. In Ecuador, an R&C Grant empowered local communities to lead Andean bear surveys, capturing over 100,000 camera-trap images that shaped conservation strategies in the region. In Southeast Asia, funding enabled researchers to improve sun bear rescue and rehabilitation programs, increasing survival rates for orphaned cubs. By bridging the gap between research and action, these grants ensure conservation efforts are backed by science, leading to real-world solutions that protect bears where they need it most.
The “Programa Jucumari” is a community-based conservation initiative in Cochabamba aimed at reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) between Andean bears and local communities. Launched in 2021, the program addresses economic losses due to livestock predation by empowering local women through the commercialization of handmade textiles, thereby providing alternative income sources. In partnership with the Municipal Government, a protective law for Andean bears was enacted in 2022, supported by data from the program. Despite these efforts, retaliatory killings of bears persist due to livestock losses. The project focuses on sustainable livestock management practices that communities can adopt to minimize conflicts and foster coexistence with the bears. The IBA grant enables this initiative by providing essential funding for local engagement, training, and implementation of these strategies. Ultimately, the project aims to promote long-term conservation efforts and a sense of ownership among local cattle owners.
This project focuses on assessing the distribution and habitat use of the Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in Calipuy National Reserve, Peru. This region represents a unique ecosystem for the bears, situated at the southern end of the Peruvian western Andes, where little is known about their population and habitat use. Through the training of local rangers in camera trapping techniques, the project aims to estimate bear occupancy across various environmental and anthropogenic gradients and analyze their activity patterns. This vital research will help address the management needs of the Calipuy reserve and contribute to Peru’s National Conservation Plan for Andean Bears. The IBA grant plays a crucial role in providing essential resources and technical support to enable robust data collection and effective conservation strategies. Ultimately, the findings will inform a management plan for the reserve, enhancing efforts to protect this overlooked bear population.
This research project focuses on assessing the occupancy and conflict patterns of Sloth bears in the reserved and protected forests of Sirohi, Jalore, Pali, and Rajsamand districts in Rajasthan. With rising Human-Sloth bear conflicts and a significant gap in scientific data, this study aims to provide critical baseline information that will inform effective conservation planning. By investigating both local and landscape factors affecting Sloth bear occurrence, the research addresses long-overlooked areas previously excluded from IUCN distribution maps. Utilizing comprehensive methodologies, it will document Sloth bear habitats and analyze human-wildlife interactions to better understand the spatial patterns influencing human conflicts. Additionally, the study will present a comparative analysis of evolving public attitudes towards Sloth bears, contributing to both ecological and social dynamics in conservation efforts.
The IBA grant has been instrumental in facilitating this project by providing essential funding to hire research staff and acquire necessary equipment, enabling successful completion of extensive fieldwork and supporting the urgent need for Sloth bear conservation in the region.
This research project, led by PhD student Divyashree Rana from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, aims to understand the declining sloth bear populations (Melursus ursinus) in the fragmented Central Terai landscape of India. It seeks to identify genetic connectivity, movement barriers, and potential local extinctions in sloth bears, who inhabit protected areas like Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Dudhwa National Park. By standardizing genetic monitoring tools and analyzing landscape features, the project will enhance our understanding of sloth bear ecology and inform conservation strategies. Field surveys will collect fecal samples for genetic analysis, mapping corridors and barriers to movement crucial for the bears’ survival. The project addresses urgent knowledge gaps while highlighting the critical impact of habitat loss on small populations.
The support from the IBA grant has been pivotal in enabling this vital research, facilitating the development of tools and approaches necessary to understand and conserve sloth bears effectively. This funding helps ensure that the project can engage with local stakeholders and disseminate findings to raise awareness of the species’ conservation needs.
The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, plays a critical role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems in Northern West Bengal, India. This project focuses on understanding the intricate dynamics between these bears and local communities, driven by rising human-bear interactions due to habitat fragmentation and resource scarcity. Through systematic interviews and participatory monitoring, the research aims to identify the factors influencing bear distribution and inform strategies to alleviate conflict. The study area includes a mix of protected and human-use land, critical for assessing both bear behavior and local perceptions. The project will build capacity among local biodiversity monitoring committees and create outreach materials to foster engagement and awareness. Supported by the IBA grant, this project can effectively address the urgent conservation needs of the Asiatic black bear, promoting coexistence between wildlife and local communities while ensuring the bear population’s survival.
This research project focuses on understanding the nutritional and reproductive health of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus), significantly impacted by climate change and declining sea ice. By evaluating hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) as a biomarker for assessing fasting status and reproductive success, the study aims to offer valuable insights for conservation efforts. Initial findings indicate that denning females exhibit significantly higher HbA1c levels compared to non-denning females, suggesting that this biomarker could effectively identify reproductive activity. The next phase involves studying HbA1c changes in zoo-housed polar bears to refine its diagnostic utility, particularly in relation to body mass, seasonal effects, and reproductive class. Additionally, analyzing wild polar bears with confirmed litter loss will enhance the understanding of reproductive failure. Ultimately, this research will provide a new method for monitoring the health of polar bear populations crucial for informing conservation strategies.
The IBA grant has been instrumental in making this project possible by providing essential funding for sample collection and analysis, allowing researchers to pursue innovative methodologies that enhance polar bear conservation efforts.
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