International Journal of Zoology Studies

Authors
KS Abdul Samad, BB Hosetti

Abstract
A field study was carried out to decipher the root cause of conflict between Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) and human at Kadekolla cluster villages in Ballari district of Karnataka state. Data was collected through interviews with the 58 victims living in eight villages who survived serious injuries during 2001 to 2016. The study revealed that, the modern horticultural practices to grow orchard plants on the other side of bear habitat as reason for the attacks. While returning from orchards in the morning hours, bears encounter people going to their farmlands, thus conflict occurs. 58 % of the bear attacks occurred in farmlands and the victims of attack were in the age group of 31-50 years. 57 % of attacks were made by solitary bears and 33 % of attacks by mother bear and cubs. 41 % of the victims received serious head injuries 5 % of the victims succumb to the fatal injuries. 36% of the attacks occurred within 1 kilometer distance from the villages. 55 % of the victims felt that the change of crop pattern was the root cause of man-animal conflict in this area. It is also realized that the excessive human activities, deforestation and non-availability of water were the causes for the conflict.