Distribution and Habitat Preference of Sloth Bear in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Sloth bears in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, exhibit a strong preference for mixed forest habitats, with a Relative Preference Index (RPI) of 0.42, followed by grasslands (RPI = 0.21). Riverine and Sal forests are less preferred but not avoided, indicating habitat flexibility. The bears' distribution is clumped and influenced by proximity to water sources, roads, altitude, and human disturbances such as cattle presence and fires. This study, conducted between March and May 2012, used a grid-based sampling method across 35 randomly selected grids to record 87 direct or indirect signs of sloth bear occupancy, providing critical baseline data for their conservation.

Ghimire, D., & Thapa, T. B. (2015). Distribution and Habitat Preference of Sloth Bear in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum, 28, 9–17. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnhm.v28i0.14163