Himalayan bears on verge of extinction

Deosai Plateau in Northern Pakistan spread over 3,000 square kilometers is a place of astounding beauty, lush greenery, and biodiversity where the numbers of Himalayan bears were increasing previously, but now there’s a sharp decline in their population.

In five decades, the temperature has doubled compared to the rest of Pakistan, which is affecting not only the monsoon but also rapid changes on the plateau, making it difficult to see Himalayan brown bears.

In a documentary titled ‘Bears on the Brink- Deosai’ aired on The Express News, the filmmaker elucidated that the Himalayan brown bears are in danger of extinction, climate-changing is not only causing malnutrition but also creating human-bear conflict.

These bears have lost 98 per cent of their previous numbers worldwide. By 2050, all Himalayan brown bears will lose another 11 per cent of their existing population as a consequence of climate change.

Mehdi Sadpara, a wildlife ranger, who is working in Deosai National Park for about 22 years, said that when he came to Deosai National Park there were only 15 bears and today the number has increased to 78.

“For many years we have observed the weather is changing. The rains are not on time. This year, there were no rains in June, July, and August,” said Sadpara.

He added that there are fewer flowers and less grass than usual.

While evoking past years he stated, “There used to be marshlands full of water here. The grass was green here, but this year everything has gone.”

There was a time when there were lots of marmots but now the climate has changed and numbers of marmots have decreased with no sign of bears.

He said that the bears rarely come here anymore and they have to go very far to the bottom of the mountain where it’s green. That’s where they find the bears.

Ghulam Hussain who is running a camp since 1997 in Deosai observed that initially, the brown bears used to be rare but now with each passing day they come even closer. This time of year, there isn’t enough food for them. So, they come near the camp searching for chicken, bones, or meat.

When more people come to Deosai during the season, these bears easily get food to eat, but when the area (Deosai) is closed and people don't visit here, these bears don't get food. Then they have to move towards the village.

“The nutritional deficiency of bears can be gauged from the fact that I had my yak worth Rs80 to Rs100 thousand. It was out grazing one night and the bear ate it,” Ghulam Hussain shared his story.

Manzoor Hussain, a habitant of Deosai, told the filmmaker that he remembered six to seven feet deep snowfalls in his village. But for the last two to five years it is never that deep. It is not even more than two to three feet.

Manzoor does not seem to be blissful with this climate change and the future of the region. He said life is no longer exactly what it used to be. “I have decided to save some money and migrate from here.”

“Manzoor Hussain and many others like him can migrate from this region but the Himalayan brown bears have nowhere else to go as Deosai is their last stronghold in Pakistan,” documentary highlighted.

Weather change may be a normal phenomenon for numerous, but the situation for people living in Deosai, wildlife, and natural heritage is devastating.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2022.