“National Training Programme on Monitoring Sloth Bear Population and Habitat” was jointly organized by Wildlife and Conservation Biology Research Foundation, Patan and Chhota Udepur Forest Division. The training programme was organized at Kevdi Eco tourism area in Chhota Udepur district. The training was called ‘20–20’ that included 40 participants out of which 20 were students across the country and 20 frontline forest staff of Gujarat Forest Department. Participants' teams were made with one student and one forest frontline staff benefiting everyone with knowledge exchange, experience sharing and capacity building. Experts from various universities, forest department and their partners and collaborators across the country have delivered talks and handson training on habitat evaluation monitoring and management, demonstration of camera traps and placing them on field.

Apart from this, the advanced monitoring and assessment technique sessions on applications of Remote Sensing (RS) and use of Geoinformatics System (GIS) in bear habitat management was also taught during the course of training period. Also, sloth bear population monitoring, conservation education and outreach, human-sloth bear conflicts and sloth bear rescue operations along with many field based sessions were part of the training programme that played a vital role for initiating science based conservation and management of wildlife. Everyday few student participants presented their research and exchange of ideas happened. Chhota Udepur forest division covered the basic cost towards the logistics including all training materials and training kit, meals, lodging, field travel during the course and remuneration of experts including their TA/DA. WCB Research Foundation has provided the knowledge resources and overall coordination of the course. Sloth bear Conservation Education Programme WCB Research