Barmer/Jalore, June 16 -- Amid rising incidents of sloth bears venturing into villages around the Sundha Mata Bear Conservation Reserve, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has launched a detailed scientific study aimed at understanding bear behaviour and reducing human-bear conflict. The survey will use modern DNA-based techniques to estimate the reserve's bear population and examine factors driving bears out of forest habitats. Researchers will also assess food availability, water sources, shelters and movement corridors to develop a long-term conservation and habitat improvement strategy for the region. Researchers will assess natural food availability, water sources, caves, rocky shelters, vegetation and bear movement corridors across the reserve to prepare a long-term habitat improvement plan. The study seeks to understand why bears are increasingly moving into human settlements and what measures can help minimize encounters between wildlife and local communities. A key component of the survey is the use of DNA-based population estimation. Research teams will collect bear scat and other biological samples for laboratory analysis to determine the actual bear population in the region with greater scientific accuracy. Researchers will also examine bear movement routes, activity patterns and habitat use in detail. The findings are expected to help forest managers improve food and water availability within forest areas, strengthen natural resources and reduce the need for bears to move outside protected habitats. The study is currently being conducted in three regions - the Jaswantpura-Sundha Mata Bear Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan, Mount Abu and the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Gujarat. Officials said the research would contribute to long-term conservation planning and promote better coexistence between people and wildlife....