Population of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Kaghan and Siran Valleys, District Mansehra, Pakistan

Population estimation survey of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus G. (Baron) Cuvier, 1823) was conducted in Kaghan and Siran Valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. The different surveys (questionnaire, sighting, and sign survey) were conducted in all sites of the forests from June to November 2018. Thirteen different types of signs were observed during the field survey. Potential site selection was based on sign observation (Encounter Rate; ER). Four black bears were observed from three different spots. Two mature male bears were seen in Kaghan Valley (Kamal Bann and Malakandi Reserve Forest) and a mother with a single cub was observed in Siran Valley during dusk. Population estimation was carried out by transect method, with 18 transects were in Kaghan and 15 transects in Siran Valley. A total of 1858 signs were recorded during the field survey; among these 1213 dig marks, 186 plants uprooting and two setting places. An average of 49.95 signs/km2 was recorded; this is a very high encounter rate. According to BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Science and Nature, the home range size of Asiatic black bears is 10 to 20 km2, so we concluded that more than 24 black bear were present in both valleys.