Damages to Himalayan White Pine (Pinus wallichiana) by Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Tree damage is one of the destructive behaviors Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus G. (Baron) Cuvier, 1823), and this type causes great economic loss to forest. A survey about Himalayan white pine (Pinus wallichiana (A. B) Jacks, 1836) damages was conducted at Kaghan Valley, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out within five major sites including Manshi reserve forest, Kamal Bann Malkandi Noori Bichla some Guzara forests. Line transects diameter breast height (DBH) methods selected for data collection. Eighteen placed in different valley. total (n = 201) affected trees observed from eighteen transects, along with a population 1081 encounter rate (ER: 0.657) mean DBH x¯ 71.97 cm. Among damages, most severe 39: 19.4%) fully damaged greater rate. Bark stripping made during late winter season used as foodstuff when natural food limited area. In cases, bear-stripped bark encircles entire tree trunk, which results drying and, finally, falls. all sites, forest greatly affected, where highest number 76) damage, 21) trunks damaged. People study area claimed that well crop destruction leads high loss.