TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Hsinchu Branch confirmed Tuesday two Formosan black bear sightings on March 30 in Taoyuan's Fuxing District, marking the northernmost sightings of the species in Taiwan since 2000.
Both reports came from Indigenous residents. This is the first time members of local Indigenous communities have proactively reported such sightings.
The agency and the reporting Hagay tribespeople conducted immediate on-site investigations. The first sighting was at 2 p.m. in a bamboo forest near a 700-m-high Indigenous reserve.
The second sighting occurred a few hours later. A witness heard noises on a slope and then saw a bear leap from a guardrail.
No physical evidence was found at either site. However, one witness gave a detailed description and the other had a close, clear view of the bear.
Officials confirmed the animal as a Formosan black bear. As the two locations are only 600 m apart, it is likely the same individual.
The reported locations are near the Hapen area at the border of New Taipei and Yilan, which marked the northernmost range of Formosan black bear distribution in a national survey conducted in 2000.
The Formosan black bear population has not shown significant recovery since it was classified as an endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Act in 1989. The main threats to the species today are human-induced, including illegal hunting, habitat loss, road development, and recreational disturbances.
The sightings suggest a gradual recovery of the black bear population, which the branch called an encouraging sign for conservation. They also reflect successful collaboration between the agency and Indigenous communities.
As the bear population grows, preventing human-bear conflict in mountainous Fuxing is critical. Residents are advised to store food properly and secure livestock pens.
The branch reminded farmers and Indigenous hunters to use safe trapping methods. Improved traps that avoid capturing bears are available for request or exchange.
If a bear is accidentally caught, there will be no penalties if it is reported immediately. Assistance will be provided for rescue.
In cases of bear intrusions or if a bear is found trapped, the public is urged to call 1999 or 0800-000-930.
