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 sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) emerges at dusk from boulder-strewn hills and fragmented dry forests. These are not remote wildernesses. They are shared landscapes farms, orchards, and village paths where bears and people move through the same terrain. Over the past two decades, Ballari now Vijayanagara District has experienced repeated and often severe human–sloth bear encounters, resulting in serious injuries and, in some cases, human fatalities, followed by retaliatory pressures on bears. As habitat fragmentation intensifies, sloth bears increasingly navigate human-dominated spaces, transforming once forest-centered movements into high-risk interactions.
These movements are not random. In dry deciduous ecosystems, seasonal resource limitations strongly influence bear behavior. During peak summer months, natural waterholes dry up and food availability declines, making water and anthropogenic food sources critical drivers of sloth bear movement. As a result, bears are pushed toward irrigated croplands, orchards, and water sources near villages, particularly after dark. The intersection of ecological necessity and human activity creates predictable but high-risk overlap zones. Beneath each conflict incident lies this broader ecological pattern.
This project seeks to bring scientific clarity to that complexity.
To address this, the project integrates ecological field surveys, structured community interviews, and advanced spatial modeling to identify the drivers and patterns of conflict. Using ensemble species distribution models and space–time hotspot analysis, we will map habitat suitability, detect emerging conflict clusters, and quantify the influence of environmental and socio-economic variables on encounter risk. By combining fine-scale spatial data with local knowledge from affected communities, the study aims to move beyond reactive responses and toward predictive, evidence-based mitigation strategies that will reduce conflict while supporting long-term sloth bear conservation.
The IBA Research and Conservation Grant has made it possible to maintain sustained field presence in villages with high level of conflict with Sloth bear. Deploy spatial analysis tools, and systematically document the ecological and socio-economic drivers of human–sloth bear encounters. The grant supports the integration of scientific modeling with community engagement, ensuring that mitigation strategies are grounded in both data and local realities. This critical seed funding transforms research into actionable conservation outcomes. I would like to thank donors, for making this work possible.
Tibetan brown bear populations are likely expanding across the Sanjiangyuan region on the Tibetan Plateau, reshaping human–bear interactions there. Frequent encounters result in increasing incidents of bears entering residences, property damage, and occasional attacks on people. While Tibetan communities maintain strong cultural ties to the land and its wildlife, they currently lack the capacity to effectively respond to diverse bear-related risks, which in turn erodes local support for bear conservation.
Focusing on this critical yet often overlooked community dimension, I am conducting over 400 household surveys to systematically examine how risk perception, vulnerability, and socio-cultural norms shape local capacities and preferences for sustainably coexisting with Tibetan brown bears. My research aims to help practitioners and policymakers develop a more nuanced understanding of herder–bear relationships in this unique cultural landscape and to inform more locally grounded and tailored bear management in Sanjiangyuan. By doing so, this work will support local livelihoods, enhance bears’ long-term persistence, and enable more sustainable and equitable human–bear coexistence.
I am very grateful for the generous support of the IBA grant, which enables me to conduct extended fieldwork, continue household surveys, and share my findings back with the community. With the support of IBA and its donors, this project contributes to more durable human–bear coexistence on the Tibetan Plateau and beyond. Thank you!
Pakistan’s Biodiversity Action Plan identified 225 Protected Areas (PAs); however, conservation outcomes for globally threatened species remain constrained by limited training, inadequate knowledge, and scarce resources among frontline staff. Building on previous support from IBA, assessments of protected area management effectiveness revealed that a substantial portion of suitable Asiatic Black Bear (ABB) habitat exists outside formally protected zones—underscoring critical spatial and management gaps in current conservation frameworks. These evaluations also highlighted the absence of species-specific action plans, weak strategic management, and limited planning beyond PA boundaries, compounded by deficiencies in staffing, budgeting, and technical capacity.
This project aims to strengthen conservation of the Vulnerable Asiatic Black Bear in Pakistan by empowering PA staff through targeted capacity building, enhanced monitoring, and provision of essential field tools. Implemented in Machiara National Park, the initiative will establish a science-based, practical model for bear management and human–wildlife conflict mitigation. By cultivating skilled personnel and standardized practices, it seeks to advance long-term, evidence-driven bear conservation while serving as a replicable framework for other PAs nationwide.
The IBA grant has been instrumental in catalyzing this initiative—enabling the creation of specialized training modules, standardized monitoring protocols, and essential field resources that collectively establish the foundation for sustained, science-based Asiatic Black Bear conservation and management across Pakistan. The role of IBA is highly appreciated for its pivotal support in launching this initiative.
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.
The proposed conservation project aims to improve sloth bear habitats in north Gujarat. Sloth bears, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, face increasing threats from habitat degradation, declining natural food resources, and rising human–bear conflicts. In the fragmented forest landscapes of north Gujarat, the loss of native fruiting plants has reduced food availability, forcing bears to enter agricultural fields and nearby villages in search of alternative resources.
To address this challenge, the project will restore degraded habitats by planting native fruiting tree species preferred by sloth bears on barren lands and by reconnecting fragmented forest patches. Habitat assessments, food-preference information, and geospatial analysis will guide the identification of priority plantation sites. Cluster plantation will help ensure seasonal food availability within natural habitats, reducing bears’ dependence on crops and human food sources.
The project also emphasizes community engagement through awareness programs in forest-fringe villages, promoting better waste management and coexistence practices. By integrating habitat restoration with community participation, the initiative aims to reduce conflicts and develop a replicable conservation model.
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.
Human-Andean bear interactions (HABI) are increasing in South America and can lead to human–wildlife conflict. Despite ongoing efforts to monitor this situation, the wide range of approaches used in different socio-economic contexts limits our ability to fully understand HABI patterns and support coexistence with bears.
My PhD project focuses on improving HABI knowledge following four phases:
Assessment phase (completed). Conducted an extensive review of literature in Spanish and English across the species’ distribution that revealed existing HABI data are heterogeneous, and incomplete with notable knowledge gaps in Peru and Bolivia.
Planning phase (completed). Identified the key strategic steps needed to improve HABI data quality as the creation of standardized guidelines.
Action phase (initiated).
The IBA Research and Conservation Grant is helping us to increase the impact of the guidelines by supporting the publication of a printed version and the delivery of an international training workshop in Cusco, Peru. With a hybrid format allowing online and in-person participation we aim to reach ~100 stakeholders and bear specialists. Participants will be provided training, receive the guidelines, and have opportunities to share experiences and build a network to promote improved understanding and management of HABI. Thank you donors!
This project addresses a significant knowledge gap in the reproductive ecology of the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) by investigating denning behavior within the rugged Aravalli range of Gujarat. While the sloth bear is a Schedule I species and listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, localized data on how they select and utilize dens remains remarkably sparse. Because denning is fundamental to cub survival and the overall persistence of the population, understanding these habits is vital. The study specifically focuses on the intersection of protected forest patches and human-disturbed landscapes, seeking to understand the trade-offs bears make when choosing a site for safety and reproduction in an increasingly fragmented environment.
The research follows a multi-disciplinary framework, combining systematic field surveys and camera trap monitoring with the ground-level expertise of frontline forest staff. Spanning the forest beats of Banaskantha, Mehsana, and Sabarkantha districts, the study aims to document and analyze approximately 150 active dens. Using GIS-based mapping and GLMM-based statistical modeling, we are evaluating how specific factors—ranging from cave dimensions and slope to vegetation density and the proximity of human settlements—dictate den occupancy. This blend of high-tech spatial analysis and traditional field ecology provides a robust dataset that moves beyond simple observation into predictive science.
A primary goal of this work is its direct application to wildlife management. By evaluating the success of artificial dens constructed by the Forest Department, the project provides a rare feedback loop on the efficacy of man-made habitat interventions. The final outputs include predictive den suitability maps, which are designed to act as a roadmap for the Forest Department to mitigate human-bear conflict and prioritize high-sensitivity habitats. Ultimately, this project translates rigorous ecological research into a practical strategy for the long-term conservation of sloth bears in western India, ensuring that management decisions are rooted in evidence rather than guesswork.
