New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, will undertake an exercise to estimate the numbers of all four species of bears found in India, an official told ANI on the condition of anonymity.

"Yes, we are undertaking an exercise that will primarily look at human-sloth bear conflict in protected areas across the country," said the official.

"We will also be forwarding proposals for the other three bear species," he added. "The final numbers will be known only five years."

India is home to four bear species-Himalayan brown bear, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear and sun bear. They range widely across the country and inhabit specific areas.

The Himalayan black and brown bears are found in the Himalayan parts of In...