@article {126623, title = {Safe space in the woods: Mechanistic spatial models for predicting risks of human-bear conflicts in India}, journal = {BIOTROPICA }, volume = {55}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, pages = {504-516}, abstract = {

Human-wildlife interactions can have negative consequences when they involve large carnivores. Spatial risk modelling could serve as a useful management approach for predicting and pre-emptively mitigating negative interactions. We present a mechanistic modelling framework and examine interactions between humans and sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in a multi-use forest landscape of central India. We first assessed patterns and determinants of bear distribution across the landscape using indirect sign surveys. At the same spatial scale, we then estimated spatial probabilities of bear attacks on people using information from 675 interviews with local residents, incorporating estimates of distribution probabilities from the previous step. We found the average occupancy probability across 128 grid-cells to be 0.77 (SE = 0.03). Bear occupancy was influenced by terrain ruggedness, forest composition and configuration, vegetation productivity and size of human settlements. The average probability of a bear attack in any given grid-cell was 0.61 (SE = 0.03), mostly determined by bear occurrence patterns, forest cover, terrain ruggedness, and size of human settlements. Using spatial information on people{\textquoteright}s dependence on forest resources, we identified locations with the highest risk of bear attacks. Our study demonstrates that human attacks by bears-generally believed to be random or incidental-in fact showed deterministic patterns. Our framework can be applied to other scenarios involving human-wildlife conflicts. Based on our findings, we propose that a proactive co-management approach which involves collaboration between wildlife managers and local residents could help better manage human-bear conflicts in central India and elsewhere across the species{\textquoteright} range.

}, doi = {10.1111/btp.13204}, author = {Puri, Mahi and Srivathsa, Arjun and Karanth, Krithi K. and Patel, Imran and Kumar, N. Samba} } @article {79865, title = {Navigating paved paradise: Evaluating landscape permeability to movement for large mammals in two conservation priority landscapes in India}, journal = {BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION}, volume = {247}, year = {2020}, month = {7/2020}, abstract = {

Human land use and activity results in the loss of habitat and biodiversity, and alters how animals move through landscapes. Spatially explicit information on where animal movement is affected at large spatial scales is crucial for prioritizing conservation efforts. We evaluated landscape permeability to movement in two conservation priority landscapes in India, the Western Ghats (WG) and Central India (CI). Using an agent-based model we simulated movement and dispersal of five wide-ranging species in WG (elephant, gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear) and four in CI (gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear). For each species we compared movement in the presence and absence of land-use land-cover, infrastructure and human population to identify areas where movement is impeded and reduced due to high-resistance features; unrestricted due to relatively low-resistance features; and increased and channelled due to surrounding high-resistance areas. In both landscapes, median movement was reduced. Human land-use, human population and high linear infrastructure density contribute the highest to impeded movement for all species. Natural areas constitute only 20-55\% and 50-70\% of unrestricted, increased and channelled movement areas in WG and CI respectively. This suggests that a large percentage of the landscape crucial for maintaining movement is not completely permeable. Such areas are often neglected in conservation planning. Our spatially explicit results help identify and prioritize areas where restoration or mitigation should be planned to improve permeability to movement for large mammals. Our approach can be used for other landscapes where data on large mammal movement is lacking.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108613}, author = {Jayadevan, Anisha and Nayak, Rajat and Karanth, Krithi K. and Krishnaswamy, Jagdish and DeFries, Ruth and Karanth, K. Ullas and Vaidyanathan, Srinivas} }