The Baluchistan region of Iran and Pakistan is inhabited by one of the most threatened populations of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) in Asia. The first camera-trapping survey of these so-called Baluchistan bears was conducted in Bahr-e Asman Mountain, southeastern Iran. Fourteen camera traps were installed in the entrances of caves from April to December, 2009. A total of 32 bear photographs were obtained from three caves. Data analysis of photographs showed the presence of at least seven different individuals: two lone bears, and two family groups, with one and two cubs. Despite being very marginal habitat, affected both by human use and drought, the area supports a reproducing population of bears. This study suggests that caves may be important in the life history of these bears, and should be protected for their conservation.

Abstract: Large carnivores are among the most threatened species in the world because of their natural low densities and need for expansive habitats. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is the largest carnivore in the southwestern Asia, and faces threats in much of its range from conflict with humans over shared resources and shrinkage of habitat. In this study, we surveyed for brown bear sign and scat during spring–autumn from April 2013 to November 2015 in 24 randomly selected, 25-km2 grid cells, and developed a model of potential brown bear occurrence in one of its globally southernmost distribution ranges in Iran. To better understand its conservation needs and management priorities at the landscape scale, we used a combination of field surveys to develop a Maximum Entropy (Maxent) model. The model was developed using 10 environmental and anthropogenic predictors. Potential brown bear occurrence was strongly influenced by availability of water resources (54.1%) as the most important variable; and distance to roads (16.1%), aspect (7.6%), and vegetation types (5.9%) were the other important factors. The model showed an area of 581 km2 (35%) within the study area has high to good bear-occurrence probability values; 86% of this area is located in 2 patches, each larger than the average bear home range. Identification of these patches may support establishment of a reserve in the area, which would ensure long-term survival of the brown bear and sustainable water use and resource extraction from Pistacia atlantica forests by resident and nomadic communities in the region.

Dispersal and germination of fruit seed by omnivorous mammals such as bears is common in nature (Traveset & Willson, 1997). The importance of Asiatic Black Bears Ursus thibetanus Cuvier, 1823 in seed dispersal and germination have been documented in India and Japan (Koike et al., 2012; Sathyakumar & Viswanath, 2003). However, little is known about the role of Asiatic Black Bears (hereafter Black Bears) in seed germination and dispersal in other parts of the species range in Asia. In Iran, Black Bears are rare, least studied, and thus much of their ecology remains largely unknown (Yusefi, 2013). Typical of other areas, the diet of Black Bear in Iran consists of herbs, both wild and cultivated fruits, and animal matter (Ghadirian, Qashqaei, Soofi, Abolghasemi, & Ghoddousi, 2017). Seed germination and dispersal of date palm Phoenix dactylifera by Black Bears is common local knowledge in Baluchestan of Iran (Ziaie, 2008); however, no study has addressed the role of the species in this respect in the country. Here, we report the first evidence of date palm seed dispersal and germination (Figure 1) in the scats of Black Bears from the ‘Shushin’ area in Nikshahr County, which is located in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeast of Iran.

Little information exists on the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus gerdrosianus) in the western part of its distribution. This study investigated the status of this species in the Baluchistan district of Iran, from April 2004 to February 2006. Sign surveys and interviews with elderly local-born people revealed that although this bear was commonly seen by locals in many areas 20–30 years ago, at present, it only exists in four localities in Nikshahr County (Aband, Kushad, Shoshin and the Pozak Protected Area). Each of these four areas appears to be occupied by only a few individual bears. It seems that the largest number of black bear live in the Aband Mountains, followed by the Kushad Mountains, Shoshin and the Pozak Protected Area. Habitat fragmentation as the result of human habitation, livestock grazing and a continuous severe drought has caused insularization of these small bear populations in Nikshahr. The Asiatic black bear in Nikshahr is endangered in the entire area and is in need of urgent conservation action. The education and co-operation of local people, and active management to restore habitat, are vital if this species is to persist in this region.