Certificate - Etheses - Saurashtra University

animals including brown bear. In the disturbed, fragmented and degraded forest
areas, habitat improvement through protection, plantation and reduction of biotic
pressures need to be carried out to sustain wild animal populations. Local people
should help and cooperate in protection of forests and wild animals therein,
which will help increase in prey base in the wild. They should also protect
forests from any outbreak of forest fire.
2. In Kugti wildlife sanctuary, nine distinct habitat types viz. Agricultural land,
Grassland and forest blanks, Mixed forest with conifers and broad leaf species,
Himalayan Moist temperate forests with conifers, Near water bodies, river and
streams, Dry alpine scrub characterized by Juniperus species, Riverine forests,
Exposed rock with slope grasses and Moist sub-alpine scrub dominated by
Rhododendron species are used by brown bears for ranging, feeding, breeding
activities, hibernation and seeking shelter. The habitat use by brown bear was
found to be largely dependent on the availability of food resources, variety of
food plants and shelter in different habitat types. There were 25 species of food
plants available in these habitats. So it is very important to protect these habitats
from increasing biotic interference, and exploitation of these resources by the
people. Some regulation on collection of mushroom and medicinal plants used
by brown bears in these habitats should be imposed.
3. Brown bear make highest use of Moist sub-alpine scrub characterized by
Rhododendron species, Himalayan moist temperate forest with conifers, Mixed
forest with conifers and broad leaf species and Grassland and forest blanks
habitats. These habitats need to be protected from biotic interferences.
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