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| Formosan Black Bear | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
| Endangered | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Ursidae |
| Genus: | Ursus |
| Species: | U. thibetanus |
| Subspecies: | U. t. formosanus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Ursus thibetanus formosanus Swinhoe, 1864 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Selenarctos thibetanus formosanus | |
The Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus, or Selenarctos thibetanus formosanus), also known as the white-throated bear, is a subspecies of the Asiatic Black Bear. Formosan black bears are an endemic species to Taiwan. They are also the largest land animals and the only native bears (Ursidae) in Taiwan.
Because of severe exploitation and habitat degradation in recent decades, populations of wild Formosan black bears have been declining. This species was listed as "endangered" under the Cultural Heritage and Preservation Law in 1989. Their geographic distribution is restricted to remote, rugged areas at elevations of 1000-3500m (3,300-10,000 ft).
Life and Behavior
Although omnivorous, Formosan black bears maintain a primarily vegetarian diet. They feed primarily on leaves, buds, fruits, roots, insects, and small animals, though they can also eat carcasses and carrion. Diets of bears monitored in Yushan National Park included succulent vegetation in spring, soft fruits rich in carbohydrate in summer, and fat-loaded hard mast (e.g., acorn and walnut) in fall/winter. They are solitary and usually move around except during the mating season or when caring for cubs.
Unlike Asiatic black bears in temperate areas, Formosan black bears do not hibernate in winter. They are active 54-57% of the time over the entire day, and more active during summer (60%) and fall/winter (60%) than spring (47%). They are primarily active during the day in the spring and summer; and increasingly active at night in the fall/winter when acorns are abundant.
Hunter and Hunted
Formosan Black Bears and Formosan Clouded Leopards (i.e., two of the most powerful land animals on the island of Taiwan) used to roam and reign over ranges and mountains on the island of Taiwan. However, their fates are quite different today: leopards became distinct and bears become endangered species, however survived. According to the research of the Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, this may be due to the myths and traditional taboos of Taiwanese aborigines.
Bunun people call black bears Aguman or Duman which mean the devil. If a hunter's traps accidentally get a bear, he has to build a cottage in the mountains and burn up the body of the bear there. He has also to stay in the cottage alone away from the village until the harvest of millet gets passed. Rukai and Paiwan people are allowed to hunt bears, but the hunters have to pay the price of carrying the ancient curse in return. Rukai people believe hunting bears can result in diseases. Also not every one is allowed to eat bear meat, especially the children are strongly forbidden. In Taroko (Truku) legends, Formosan black bears are respectful “kings of the forest” whose white mark on chest represents the moon. They also believe that killing black bears result in family disasters. In general among these hunting tribes, hunters of boars are respected as heroes, while hunters of bears are concerned as losers.
Endangered Species
From 1998 to 2000, there were fifteen Formosan black bears captured and radio collared in Yushan National Park. Based on the low number of reported bear sightings, Mei-Hsiu Hwang and Ying Wang estimated no more than several hundred bears existing on the island of Taiwan in 2006. The species has been legally protected since 1989 but illegal hunting continues. For example, eight of fifteen bears captured had missing toes or paws, caused by illegal traps. This would appear to support a conclusion that poaching continues to threaten Formosan black bear populations.
Since 1989, Formosan black bears were listed as endangered animals and protected by Taiwan's Cultural Heritage Preservation Law (Traditional Chinese: 文化資產保存法). Internationally, this species is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES bans all international trade in any products from this species. Formosan black bear is also on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) which states that these bears as vulnerable to extinction.
Popular Culture
The logo of La New Bears, a professional baseball team in Taiwan, features a Formosan Black Bear.
References
See also
External Links
- Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- The Current Status of Formosan Black Bear in Taiwan by Y. Wang
- Status and Management of the Formosan Black Bear in Taiwan by Yin Wang
- The status and management of Asiatic black bears in Taiwan by MY Hwang and Y. Wang
- Tsai, C.-l.; Chou, Y.-c.; Shih, C.-c.; Cheng, H.-c.; Yang, C.-c.; Kao, H.-w. 2009: The complete mitochondrial genome of the Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus). Zootaxa, 1971: 50-58.
- Conservation and Research of Formosan Black Bear, Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology