Formosan black bears have been captured on camera head-on in Chiayi County’s Alishan Township (阿里山) in April and last month, confirming a stable population in the region, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Chiayi Branch said on Friday.
The bears were recorded near the southern end of Tefuye Historic Trail (特富野古道) and the upper reaches of the Nanzihsian River (楠梓仙溪) in Zhongshan Village (中山), the agency said in a statement.
None of the bears recorded were fitted with tracking collars, suggesting that a stable population of black bears is active in the Alishan area, the statement said.
Photo courtesy of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Chiayi Branch
The bear captured by an infrared camera set up by the Cou Hunters Association in April is believed to be different from a bear involved in a conflict in Lijia Village (里佳部落) in January, it said.
The footage showed the bear briefly pausing to observe the camera while passing by during the daytime, it said, adding that obtaining a clear frontal image of a wild Formosan black bear is rare.
The association has caught Formosan black bears on camera for four consecutive years since 2023, it said.
It was recently awarded NT$50,000 in recognition of its long-term efforts in mountain patrols and wildlife monitoring, the agency added.
To incentivize residents of mountainous areas to help with conservation and prevent human-bear conflict, the agency has been promoting the Payments for Ecosystem Services program since 2022.
The program rewards people who film or photograph black bears NT$50,000 each time at an interval of at least three months and up to two times within a year, the agency said.
Separately, infrared cameras installed by the Alishan work station near the upper reaches of the Nanzihsian River also recorded black bear activity on May 11 and 23, it said.
The bears were also not wearing tracking collars, it said.
The Tefuye Historic Trail is a popular hiking route, but the location where the bear was recorded is about 500m from the trail and not along a path used by hikers, it said, urging the public not to panic.
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