Man-animal conflict due to increased human activity in and around the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Dahod district of Gujarat has prompted forest officials here to send a proposal to declare a vast area surrounding it as an eco-fragile zone.

Spread in an area of 55.65 km, Ratanmahal serves as the natural habitat to the Sloth Bear and three separate incidents of attack on humans reported in the last couple of months within the periphery of the sanctuary, has raised concerns, forest officials said.

Deputy Conservator of Forests S K Sangur told PTI here that along with increased human activity, the population of the sloth bear has also risen over the years and we expect it go further up in the next census to be conducted in 2011.

During the last census in 2006, there were 66 sloth bears in the sanctuary, he said.

"The density of the Sloth Bear in the sanctuary is high and that is the reason they are frequently sighted outside the protected area. We have sent a proposal to the Gujarat government to declare a vast area around the sanctuary as an eco-fragile zone where entry of the industry especially mining could be restricted. The proposal is under consideration," Sangur added.

The Sloth Bear is a nocturnal and insectivorous species of bear restricted to the Indian subcontinent.

On the man-animal conflict Sangur said demands of better facilities especially power, by tribals residing near the sanctuary is posing a major problem.

"The main problem is, there are tribal villages in and around the sanctuary, which are demanding more facilities from the state administration after seeing developments in other parts of the state. Their basic demand is for electricity and allowing other modern tools in the forest area," he said.

"Sloth bear being nocturnal animals come out of their habitat after the dusk. Once electricity is supplied to the villages, the animals will exit the area," Sangur said adding the villagers have been persistently demanding electricity and have been staging agitations for it.

"Once electricity is given in the protected forest area, people living there will bring more machines and tools, and disturb the environment. The district administration has offered them solar energy but they are adamant on getting the regular energy," he said.

According to forest officials, the demands of electrification of villages inside the Ratanmahal sanctuary along with agricultural as well as industrial activities around it will sound a death knell for the sloth bear.

Shaggy-haired Sloth Bears are Scheduled-I species under the Indian Wildlife Protect Act 1972, mainly found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Sloth Bears are omnivorous and mainly feed on ants and termites.