Ecological and Social Dimensions of Human-Bear Coexistence in Nepal's Gaurishankar Conservation Area

The increasing number of human-black bear interactions in Nepal's Himalayas threatens both livelihoods and bear safety. Understanding human-black bear coexistence has become increasingly important due to rising conflicts driven by habitat overlap, negative perceptions, and habitat degradation. Given the limited studies on the Asiatic Black bear in Nepal, particularly in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, our research provides essential insights into its distribution, conflict patterns, and community perceptions. This study assessed the habitat suitability of Asiatic black bears and human-black bear coexistence in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal, using integrated ecological modelling and social analysis. We collected species presence data (n = 173) between September and December 2023 and analysed them using the MaxEnt algorithm. Additionally, we surveyed 188 households to assess the nature of conflicts and local perceptions toward black bears. The MaxEnt model performed well (AUC = 0.83 training; 0.73 validation), identifying 805.9 km² (35.4%) as suitable habitat, primarily at elevations between 1000 and 3000 m. Habitat suitability was positively associated with forest diversity, precipitation during the driest quarter, and moderate human presence but declined sharply with increasing elevation and proximity to roads. Among the survey respondents (n = 188), 86% indicated that human-bear conflict was increasing. Ordered logistic regression of perception data revealed that gender, ethnicity, elevation, and perceptions of ecological value and threats significantly influenced attitudes toward black bears (Pseudo R ² = 0.57). Indigenous and female respondents reported higher perceived conflict, likely reflecting greater exposure to forest-edge livelihood activities such as fuelwood collection, fodder gathering, and livestock care, whereas respondents recognising the ecological importance of black bears expressed greater tolerance. The study underscores that black bear conservation in Nepal requires both ecological and social interventions. Habitat conservation, coupled with community-based awareness, livelihood support, and conflict mitigation programmes, is essential to foster long-term coexistence.