Navigating human-sloth bear encounters and attacks in Nepal's unprotected forests

Human-sloth bear conflict is common throughout most areas where sloth bears co-occur with humans. Altercations are more prevalent in multi-use forest landscapes outside protected areas (PAs). Sloth bears are among the key species linked to human-wildlife conflicts in Nepal's southern region, but comprehensive information to guide safety and mitigation efforts remain scarce. We collected questionnaire-based interview data on sloth bear encounters and attacks, available from 1990–2021, around the Trijuga forest, an important sloth bear habitat outside Nepal's PAs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and regression analysis. Within this time period, 66 human-sloth bear encounters involving 69 human individuals were recorded, with an annual average of 2.06 (SD = 1.48) encounters and 1.75 (SD = 1.34) attacks. Encounters primarily involved working-age men (25–55 years old), whose primary occupation was farming and who frequented the forest regularly. They typically occurred between 0900 and 1500, inside forests, and in habitats with poor land cover visibility. Fifty-six encounters resulted in attacks by bears that injured 59 people, with a fatality rate of 8.47%. Victims of bear attacks frequently had serious injuries, especially to the head and neck areas of the body. Serious injuries were more likely to occur to lone individuals than to people who were in groups of two or more. We suggest the identification of conflict-risk habitats through a participatory mapping approach and outreach programs for local communities to enhance effective human-sloth bear conflict management in Nepal’s unprotected forests.懒熊（sloth bear）与人类的冲突在懒熊和人类共存的绝大多数区域均较为普遍。这类冲突在保护区（protected areas，PAs）外的多功能森林景观中更为频发。在尼泊尔南部地区，懒熊是与人类-野生动物冲突相关的关键物种之一，但能够为安全防护与冲突缓解工作提供指导的全面信息仍较为匮乏。本研究收集了1990年至2021年间，尼泊尔保护区外重要懒熊栖息地特里朱加（Trijuga）森林周边的基于问卷访谈的懒熊遭遇与袭击相关数据，并采用描述性统计、卡方检验与回归分析对上述数据进行了分析。在此时间段内，共记录到66起人与懒熊的遭遇事件，涉及69名人类，年均遭遇事件数为2.06起（标准差SD=1.48），年均袭击事件数为1.75起（标准差SD=1.34）。遭遇事件的主要涉事群体为25至55岁的劳动年龄男性，他们的主要职业为务农，且经常前往该森林区域。这类遭遇事件多发生于上午9时至下午3时之间的森林内部，且多发生在植被覆盖度低、可视性差的生境中。其中56起遭遇事件最终引发懒熊袭击，共造成59人受伤，死亡率为8.47%。熊袭击受害者往往伤势严重，尤其是头部与颈部区域。独自出行的人员比2人及以上结伴出行的人员更易遭受重伤。本研究建议通过参与式制图方法识别冲突高危生境，并面向当地社区开展宣传项目，以提升尼泊尔非保护区内人与懒熊冲突的有效管理水平。