CHITRAL: Conservationists fear the disappearance of black bear from the forests of Chitral will cause imbalance in eco-system and thus, leading to the extinction of many other species in the area.

Sub-divisional forest officer of Chitral Gol Wildlife Division Altaf Ali Shah told Dawn on Thursday that black bear had a zero population in the national park at the time of its establishment in 1984, while its extinction from the southern forests was feared as it was spotted four years ago.

He said the density of the black bear population was quite high until 1950s when its poaching started as the animal’s body parts from top to toe were used for different purposes.

Mr. Shah said though the flesh of black bear was forbidden for Muslims, the Kalash people were fond of its fatty flesh, which they described as highly tasty and they hunted it for meat as well.

He said black bear lived near human settlements and it was more familiar with humans than other wild animals. The forest officer said the animal afforded a very lower degree of human conflict, which perhaps made it vulnerable. He claimed the department of wildlife after its creation in 1974 had made its level best to salvage the population of black bear in southern Chitral and had highlighted its ecological importance to the people to enlist their support for its conservation.

Conservationists fear wild animal’s disappearance will cause ecological imbalance

The wild animal was spotted last time in May 2012 in Arandu, the territory on Pak-Afghan border. Thereafter, its sighting has not been reported in any part of the southern Chitral. The northern Chitral have brown bears, which are out of danger. Another reason of the extinction of black bear is said to be its movement to Afghanistan, where it is reportedly poached ruthlessly on such a scale that some of its body parts are available on the market without restriction.

Biodiversity specialist Ajaz Ahmad said in Chitral, all three Kalash valleys, Chitral Gol, Moleen Gol, Uchust Gol, Shali Gol, Jugjoor Gol, Drosh Gol, Asherate, Ursoon and Gehrate Gol once had the ideal habitat for black bear.

“The disappearance of black bear is caused by many anthropogenic issues, including the war in Afghanistan bordering Chitral and extensive bear hunting in Nooristan and Kronghal valleys, Afghanistan, for fat and skin,” he said.

Mr. Ahmad said the home range of a female black bear was typically 2.5 to 10 square miles and that of male from 10 to 59 square miles.

He said the extinction of black bear from Chitral indicated some negative factors for biodiversity as it played an important role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers and nutrient providers. Enumerating the factors for the extermination of the species, he described the poaching and migration to Afghanistan as the main reasons.

Dr. Inayatullah Faizi, a former project manager of IUCN, said black bear in Chitral had always evaded the attention of conservationists as no scientific study had been conducted by any organisation in Chitral.

He said black bear should be given the same importance as that of snow leopard, whose population had been secured as it was declared the most endangered species.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016