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.