Poaching_Asiatic Black Bear_Pakistan

Affiliation
IIED
Type of wild species covered by the record
Wild species used in its natural habitat
Stage of the value chain covered by the record
Entire value chain
Record Source
Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

Poaching of Asiatic black bear: evidence from Siran and Kaghan valleys, Pakistan

Decreasing
Is the species endemic HIDE
No
Population Status
Uncommon but wildly distributed
Formal international protection in place
International Level
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Population Trend
Decreasing
Sub-national Level
Unknown/not recorded
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Ursus thibetanus
Common Name(s)
Asiatic Black Bear
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
The whole entire organism
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Yes

the main target for many hunters is the killing of female black bear because killing of mothers allows them to poach their cubs, which have higher market values.

Purpose of Use
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
Additional Details (if available)

Bile of bears contain ursodeoxycholic acid that is used for the treatment of several diseases such as bruising, epi- lepsy, gallstones break down, hemorrhoids, poor eyesight, muscle ailments, fever, sore throats, sores, sprains, and scat as an anti-inflammatory agent

Amount
5.00
Units Of Measurement
mother bears killed each season
Time period over which this has been recorded
4 months (December to March)
What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?
Geographic Location
Country
Pakistan
Sub region/state
Siran and Kaghan valleys of district Mansehra
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National external (individual, groups. e.g., hunters, anglers, photographers, tourists)
If more than one box ticked, please provide more details

Respondents identified a tribe known as Maddi Khel in the neighboring district Battagram, the members of which regularly visit the study area for the hunting of pheasants, gray goral, snow leopard, and especially black bear.
Hunters of the neighboring districts visit the study area in winter for four months from early December to late March each year.

Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
No
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out

Despite the conservation claims by the government department in the province, the ground survey reveals severe risk to the population of black bear from hunting and illegal trafficking.

Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
No
Contribution to GDP
Unknown/not recorded
Training/Skills
Land/Resource Rights
Decision Making
Social Cohesion
Conflict- people
Conflict- wildlife
Climate Change
Has any assessment of socio-economic sustainability been recorded
Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment

Very high market value of bears, cubs, as well as all of their body parts.

Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Absent
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Absent
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Absent
High financial returns from use
Absent
Abundant population of target species
Absent
Biological characteristics of target species
Absent
Capacity building of community
Absent
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Absent
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
Absent
Good benefit-sharing mechanism
Absent
Good Market Strategies
Absent
Source Reference(s)

Ullah, Z., Ullah, I., Ullah, I., Mahmood, S., & Iqbal, Z. (2020). Poaching of Asiatic black bear: evidence from Siran and Kaghan valleys, Pakistan. Global Ecology And Conservation, 24, e01351. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01351

Despite the conservation claims by the government department in the province, the ground survey reveals severe risk to the population of black bear from hunting and illegal trafficking.
Old age (50 years and above) people observed that population of black bear declined due to illegal killing and cub poaching.

Who is involved in the use?
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Unknown/not recorded
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs
Unknown/Not recorded
Scale of Assessment
IUCN National Red List Category
IUCN Global Red List Category
Green Status Global Category
Yearly Financial Flows
Country reference