Target species (Ursus thibetanus).

Human wildlife conflict is defined as any event in which animals injure, destroy or damage human life or property, and also animals are killed, injured, captured or otherwise harmed as a result both humans and animals suffer from the interaction . It is one of the growing concerns and complex challenges that are currently being faced by the conservationists all over the world (Shrestha, 2007).

Like any other countries in the world, human wildlife conflict is one of the challenges in the field of conservation in Bhutan too. The wildlife in Bhutan enjoys the protection from any forms of threats and dangers.

Unlike the other protected areas around the globe, Bhutan's protected areas have human settlements in the buffer zones. Also there are many human settlements in and around the forested areas. These features have led to the increasing issues of human wildlife conflict in the country. One such conflict is the Human Bear Conflict. In the recent years, black bears have started raiding meditation huts by breaking doors, windows and walls. There were even risks of bear attacking the human who were inside the huts. The huts are located inside and adjacent to the forest. After the concerned organization received complains and knew about this conflict, numerous measure like guarding the huts from the black bears at night and snaring and relocation of the bears have carried out. Since those measures could not control the conflict, electric fences are installed in pilot basis in the conflict areas.

Since no comprehensive studies on black bear and effectiveness of electric fences in mitigating human-bear conflict is done as of now in Bhutan, this proposed study can answer the following questions.

1. How effective is the electric fencing in managing the conflict?

2. Is there any negative effect of fence on the bear behaviour?

3. Any necessary changes required in the design of the fence?

4. Ecology of the bear based on diet and behaviour?