With persistent conservation efforts, the black bear has returned to Nevada’s Great Basin in the US and a new study has revealed that at present, its population is over 500.

The conservation efforts have resulted in successful re-colonization of black bears into portions of their historic ranges. This was revealed by a study from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the University of Nevada-Reno.

The conservation programme has been in place for twenty years to bring the black bears from certain extinction. It involved habitat regeneration, public education, investing in bear-proofing communities, reducing conflict rates between carnivores and people and reduced human-caused carnivore mortality rates.

Due to the efforts,  the declining population of black bears turned into an average annual growth rate of 16 percent for more than a decade. Jason Malaney, lead author of the genetic study said in an official statement that the study represents a great partnership between wildlife management and geneticists.

WCS Conservation Scientist Jon Beckmann said that the recovery of large carnivores is relatively rare globally yet this is the goal of conservation.

The study stated that as the human-footprint expands over time in the region, this level of genetic connection among various mountain ranges may not last without conservation efforts to maintain connectivity.

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