C. S. Sanwal , Raheel Anwar Lone

Abstract

The survey focussed to assess the nature and extent of the human-Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) conflicts in the Kupwara district recorded 68 cases of human casualties by black bear reported during 2005 to 2011. Male casualties by black bear were more (60.29%) then females (39.70%). Maximum human casualties (23.53%) were recorded during 2010 to 2011, showing increasing trend in human-black bear conflicts. Average data during 2005 to 2011 revealed marked monthly occurrence of attacks with highest in August (26.47%) followed by July (13.23%). Maximum cases of bear attacks on human occurred at crepuscular times (44.11%) in crop fields (51.47%). Drumming of empty tin or metal containers is the most commonly traditionally used protection measure, as 71% respondents reported using this technique. Recommendations include monitoring high conflict areas, public education and awareness to change the intolerant attitude of public towards black bear, etc. are some measures which may help to minimize the human- black bear conflicts.

Keywords

Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Human-wildlife Conflict, Casualties, Mitigation Strategies

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C. S. Sanwal ¹, Raheel Anwar Lone ², Sushma ³, P. A. Khan ⁴, K. S. Pant ², S. D. Bhardwaj ⁵

Affiliations
1 Mussoorie Forest Division-248179 (Uttarakhand), IN
2 Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, PAU, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN
3 SKUAST Shalimar, Srinagar-191121, Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir), IN
4 Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, YSPUHF, Nauni, Solan-173 230 (Himachal Pradesh), IN
5 Sai Niwas 33 Scientist Colony, Post Box Shamti, Solan-173212 (Himachal Pradesh), IN

Abstract

The appropriate aspect of a mountainous slope coupled with suitable tillage practice can make very significant influences on the growth and yield attribute of a cultivated plant species especially in degraded land. So present paper aims to evaluate the effect of aspect and tillage practices on growth and yield attributes of Andrographis paniculata when raised in degraded or wasteland of mountainous area. A. paniculata was grown on three topographical aspects viz Northern, North western and Western at a spacing of 30 cm × 30 cm, followed by three tillage depths viz minimum (0 cm), medium (up to 10 cm) and deep tillage (up to 15 cm). Growth attributes like plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area index and yield showed significant difference with respect to aspect and tillage practices and highest growth and yield attributes were found when herb was grown on western aspect under deep tillage. Thus the knowledge and selection of suitable geographical aspect and tillage practice for raising A. paniculata can be helpful in cost effectiveand environment friendly cultivation with the optimum yields in degraded mountainous area.

Keywords

Andrographis paniculata, Topographical Aspect, Tillage Practices, Degraded Land.

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