Asian Journal of Animal Sciences1819-1878xxxx-xxxxxAsian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajas.2021.19.26A. KichlooMuzaffar SharmaNeeraj 12021151Background and Objective: Asiatic black bear, one of the flagship species in Kishtwar high altitude National Park is least surveyed for its current distribution, thus limiting the conservation planning and management actions at landscape level. To have first-hand information about the possible distribution and area occupancy, an attempt was made to map its spatial distribution to earmark the areas demanding specific management attention. Materials and Methods: Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm was used to delineate the areas of maximum probability of black bear distribution based on selective environmental correlates. Fifty-one presence points and six environmental variables were used to generate probability distribution maps in MaxEnt. The analysis gave a deep insight into the degree of influence of environmental variables on its distribution. Results: The average value of 0.92 obtained for the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) substantiated that the model performed very well. The study indicated that black bears mostly preferred forested landscapes (2200-3300 m) in Kibber, Nanth, Kiyar and Renai watersheds. The land use/land cover and elevation emerged as the most critical variables to the model building with individual contribution of 48.1 and 45.2%, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggested that dense temperate forests, the ideal habitats of black bear mostly along the perennial streams and rivers should be given due attention in long-term conservation and planning. The area outside the park should also be included to have a better understanding of habitat requirements of the animal and its likely dispersal routes.]]>Lu C.Y., G.W., A.H. Dai and H.Y. Wei,2012Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. in Qinling Mountains, China.]]>242105115Ebrahimi, A., A. Farashi and A. Rashki,2017Panthera pardus Saxicolor) in Iran in future.]]>76697707McCarthy, T.M., T.K. Fuller and B. Munkhtsog,2005124527537Jackson, R.M., J.D. Roe, R. Wangchuk and D.O. Hunter,200634772781Janečka, J.E., B. Munkhtsog, R.M. Jackson, G. Naranbaatar, D.P. Mallon and W.J. Murphy,201192771783Zeller, K.A., S. Nijhawan, R. Salom-perez, S.H. Potosme and J.E. Hines,2011144892901Sharma, K., R. Bayrakcismith, L. Tumursukh, O. Johansson, P. Sevger, T. McCarthy and C. Mishra,2014Panthera uncia in tost mountains, south gobi, mongolia.]]>2014Peterson, A.T. and C.R. Robins,20031711611165Araújo, M.B., M. Cabeza, W. Thuiller, L. Hannah and P.H. Williams,20041016181626Sánchez-Cordero, V., V. Cirelli, M. Munguía and S. Sarkar,200521123Phillips, S.J., R.P. Anderson and R.E. Schapire,2006190231259Elith, J., S.J. Phillips, T. Hastie, M. Dudik, Y.E. Chee and C.J. Yates,2011174357Garshelis, D.L. and R. Steinmetz,2008Ursus thibetanus.]]>2008Sathyakumar, S.,2001122130Schaller, G.B.,1977Pages: 425Pages: 425Sathyakumar, S. and A. Choudhury,2007Ursus thibetanus India.]]>104316323Charoo, S.A., L.K. Sharma and S. Sathyakumar,201122106113Kichloo. N.A.,19921992Parsa, M.A.,19991999Baba, M.M.,20032003Hilaluddin and R.Y. Naqash,20062006Hilaluddin and R.Y. Naqash,2013139872878Hanley, J.A. and B.J. McNeil,19821432936Fielding, A.H. and J.F. Bell,1997243849Allouche, O., A. Tsoar and R. Kadmon,20064312231232Peterson, A.T., M. Papes and J. Sober,20082136372QGIS Development Team,20202020Bista, R. and A. Aryal,2013Ursus thibetanus in the south-eastern region of the Annapurna conservation area, Nepal.]]>238387Bista, M., S. Panthi and S.R. Weiskopf,2018Ursus thibetanus and red panda Ailurus fulgens in Himalaya.]]>2018Watts, S.M., T.M. McCarthy and T. Namgail,2019Panthera uncia) in Ladakh, India.]]>2019Dorji, S., K. Vernes and R. Rajaratnam,20112011Hiller, T. L., J. L. Belant, J. Beringer, and A. J. Tyre,201526116128Takahata, C., N. Sadanori, K. Kirara and I. Shigeyuki,2019241626Liu, F., M. William, G. David, Z. Xiaojian, W. Dajun, G. Ji’en and C. Youping,200915649659Mcfadden-Hiller, J.E. and J. L. Belant,20182018Hernandez, P.A., C.H. Graham, L.L. Master and D.L. Albert,200629773785Pearson, R.G., C.J. Raxworthy, M. Nakamura and A.T. Peterson,200734102117Baldwin, A.R., 200911854866