A Formosan black bear previously seen in the Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area (大雪山森林遊樂區) was recently spotted near a village along the Daan River (大安溪) in Taichung, indicating that it has a large territory.
The Zida Traditional Hunters Association this month spotted the bear near a village at 1,152m above sea level, just 2km from the nearest orchard, the Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said in a statement today.
The association last year formed a Formosan black bear patrol team and has been participating in habitat patrols ever since as part of its conservation efforts, the branch said.
Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency
The image of the black bear was captured by an automated infrared camera positioned on a low-altitude mountain patrol route, it said.
Branch director Chang Hung-yi (張弘毅) visited the village and presented a habitat monitoring award in recognition of the discovery.
The association was founded in 2023 and is the first hunting association organized by multiple indigenous communities in Taichung. It is comprised of members from the Sanchakeng (三叉坑), Shuangci (雙崎), Jhulin (竹林) and Daguan (達觀) villages along the Daan River.
Since it was founded, the association has participated in black bear conservation efforts, and starting last year, has completed habitat patrol work every month.
Cameras set up during patrol work have captured images of Formosan black bears, serows, muntjacs and wild boars that serve as important data for wildlife monitoring and research.
The bear was a healthy adult previously recorded by autonomous cameras in the Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, indicating that its range extends beyond the recreation area, including forest edges and village boundaries, the branch said.
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