Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: The recent camera-trap documentation of an Asiatic Black Bear in Shirui Village of Manipur‘s Ukhrul district has been hailed as a significant achievement for community-driven wildlife conservation efforts in the region. Conservationists say the sighting reflects the positive impact of sustained habitat protection and reduced hunting activities in recent years.
The bear, scientifically known as Ursus thibetanus, was recorded on camera earlier this month during a wildlife monitoring exercise carried out by members of the Ukhrul-based environmental organisation Environmental Force at Grassroot Level (ENFOGAL). The survey team included ENFOGAL co-founder Patrick Shangh, former hunter-turned-conservationist Pamreithing Luireiwo, and survey intern P.A. Reikhokshing Shimray.
Wildlife experts believe the footage represents one of the earliest officially documented camera-trap records of the species from the area. The discovery has further strengthened Shirui Village’s growing reputation as a successful example of community-led conservation in Manipur.
Despite the encouraging development, environmentalists caution that the broader conservation outlook for bear species along the Indo-Myanmar border remains deeply concerning. They warn that widespread habitat destruction and continued poaching have severely affected bear populations across the region.
According to forest and wildlife experts, three bear species historically found in the Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border, the Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth Bear, and Malayan Sun Bear, have witnessed a sharp decline over the years and now face an uncertain future in the wild.
Dr N. Munal Meitei of the Manipur Forest Department attributed the decline to large-scale deforestation and illegal hunting. Bears are often targeted for their meat, skin, gallbladders, and other body parts, which has contributed significantly to population losses.
The Asiatic Black Bear, currently the most commonly recorded bear species in the region, is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and receives the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Conservationists stress that while the Shirui Village sighting offers hope, long-term survival of these species will depend on stronger habitat protection, effective anti-poaching measures, and greater community participation in wildlife conservation. Without sustained intervention, they warn, bear populations in Manipur could continue to decline, threatening the region’s biodiversity.