Mr. Amar Paul Singh

Wildlife Institute of India & Zoological Survey of India
India

Abstract Title: Shared Mountains, Separate Niches: Population Density and Habitat Partitioning of Himalayan Bears in the Greater Himalaya

Biography:

Amar is a PhD scholar and a wildlife researcher affiliated with three prestigious instiutes of India, Wildlife Institute of India, Zoological Survey of India and Forest research Institute if India. He is specializing in large carnivores’ ecology, and human–wildlife interactions in the Himalayan region. His work integrates field surveys, camera trapping, and advanced spatial modeling to study population dynamics, habitat preferences, and conflict. He has contributed to research on population estimation, multiscale habitat selection, niche overlap, and the impacts of climate change on wildlife distributions across Asia. His long-term goal is to provide science-based insights for conservation management and policy, supporting the protection of threatened animal populations across their range.

Research Interest:

Although the broad distribution patterns of Asiatic black bears and Himalayan brown bears are relatively well documented, their regional population status and habitat preferences remain poorly understood. To address this gap in a landscape where both species coexist, we deployed 117 grid-based camera traps in Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary between May 2023 and December 2024, totaling 4,238 trap nights. Using a spatial presence–absence framework, we estimated higher densities for HBB (4.67 individuals/100 km²) than ABB (1.90 individuals/100 km²). A multiscale approach was applied to evaluate habitat preferences, with environmental variables computed at multiple scales to identify the best-fitting predictors for each species. Generalized additive models revealed that ABB were strongly associated with moist and mixed forests near croplands at low–mid elevations, while HBB exhibited broader ecological tolerance, using coniferous forests and alpine grasslands across mid–high elevations. Habitat suitability predictions indicated that 16.30% of the area was suitable for ABB and 24.13% for HBB, with 11.77% representing overlapping suitable habitat in mid-elevation forests—potential hotspots of coexistence or competition. Our findings highlight Dhauladhar WLS as a key protected area within the Greater Himalaya, supporting one of the richest populations of Himalayan bears, particularly HBB. This study provides critical ecological baselines and spatial insights to guide targeted management and conservation strategies for both species, while contributing to their broader conservation across the Himalayan range.