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Certificate - Etheses - Saurashtra University

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Photograph 9 and 10 show fresh scats of brown bear containing wheat leaves and<br />

barley seeds respectively. Photograph 12 shows fresh scat of brown bear containing<br />

maize seeds, and Photograph 13 shows presence of barley seeds in the scat.<br />

The annual frequency of occurrence of animal matter in the scats of brown bear was<br />

21% (Table 1, Figure 3). The annual frequency occurrence of ants and insects parts<br />

was 9.3% and 5.2% respectively. Whereas the annual frequency occurrence of hairs<br />

was 2.9%, bones 2.3%, jaws and teeth 0.6% and claws and nails 0.6% each in the<br />

scats of brown bears.<br />

The annual frequency occurrence of plant matter in the scats of brown bear was 79%,<br />

and its major part (58.3%) was comprised of unknown plant matter (Table 1, Figure<br />

3). The annual frequency occurrence of agricultural crops was found to be 7.2% in the<br />

scats. Based on ocular estimation, the estimated volume for unknown plant matter was<br />

high (66.7%-100%) in the bear scats, and insects and ants was medium (33.4%-<br />

66.6%). And for rest of the animal and plant matter, it was low (0-33.3%).<br />

Based on 57 direct feeding observations made during 2002 to 2004, brown bears were<br />

found feeding on 29 species of plants including agricultural crops. There was<br />

considerable difference in the number of items brown bear were observed feeding on<br />

food plants in different seasons (Table 2, Figure 4). Photograph 2, 3 and 4 show<br />

extensive digging by brown bear and feeding on plants/ants in different areas. Out of<br />

57 direct sightings, brown bears were found feeding on food plants 184 times during<br />

summer, 141 times in monsoon and 139 times during fall season. They were found<br />

feeding on Rumex nepalensis 48 times, Chaerophyllum reflexum 39 times and<br />

54

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