Sloth Bear (<I>Melursus ursinus</I>) Habitat in the Forests of North Bilaspur Forest Division, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The practical way of identifying potential habitat of a species is to have a thorough examination of land use patterns (e.g. natural forests, plantations, water bodies, road network, human habitations, etc.) in an area from the remotelysensed data. The framework of a species habitat suitable model also envisage to ascertain features such as compact forest blocks especially those along the courses of the least fragmentation, smallest stretches of discontinuity and of the adjacent poorly covered forests communicating with the large blocks for gene flow and terrain, availability of forage and water in such areas specifically, during dry season and its distance from the human habitations with a view to ascertain its amenability to revival besides least biotic interferences. We, therefore, incorporated all such variables into our habitat suitability model for sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). A statistically desirable proportion of sloth bear geographic locations based on direct sightings during the course of study were randomly selected and were laid over the spatial layers so as to generate potential available habitat for sloth in North Bilaspur Forest Division. Logistic regression model was used to develop the probability distribution map.