Abstract

Abstract: A detailed survey was conducted to understand the habitat structure by employing 100 x 5 meters quadrates during June 2015 to May 2016 at three different forest blocks of Gudekote Bear Sanctuary. Little is known about the habitat preference of Indian sloth bear Melursus ursinus that found in North-eastern Karnataka. The study was undertaken to assess the floral structure of the Bear Sanctuary required for the conservation of viable population of Melursus ursinus to facilitate the future survival. All together 114 plant species belonging to 44 plant families were recorded of which 50.87% trees, 27.19% shrubs, 15.78% herbs and remaining 6.14% are climbers respectively. Fabaceae family members are more dominantly distributed at all the forest areas and 23 plant species are recorded as bear eating fruits. Despite its small size Gudekote bear sanctuary contain more number of shrubs and fruiting plants supporting a suitable population of Sloth Bears in it. Thus, protection of this floral diversity within the sanctuary is very much essential for the long term conservation of Sloth Bears.

Keywords

Sloth Bear, Gudekote Bear Sanctuary, Bear food Plants, Floral diversity, Ballari District, Deccan Plateau.

Received on 26/01/2018, Accepted on 03/02/2018, Published on 05/02/2018