TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency on Wednesday evening rescued a Formosan black bear in Wu Ling Village, in Shei-Pa National Park, after its left front paw became caught in a hunter's snare, where it had been trapped for nearly half a day.

The rescued bear is an adult male weighing 63 kilograms. Veterinarians found it to be underweight, dehydrated, inflamed, anemic, and malnourished. Part of the tissue on its left front paw had become necrotic due to being caught in the trap and was partially removed, per CNA.

According to the administration, staff in Wu Ling Village heard animal cries in the forest Wednesday morning but were unable to locate the source. Later that afternoon around 2 p.m., they discovered the bear trapped.

After receiving the report, the administration dispatched a rescue team of 27 people, including veterinarians from the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute and Wu Ling Village staff.

Since the institute's wildlife rescue center is located in Nantou and the journey to Wu Ling Village is long, the medical team didn't arrive until 9:40 p.m. After veterinarians sedated the bear with a tranquilizer dart and conducted a preliminary examination, it was transported to the institute's wildlife rescue center at 7:20 a.m. Thursday.

The national park said that it has received reports from hikers of neaby black bear sightings. Since hunting is prohibited in national parks, the incident has been handed over to the police for investigation. The park added that it will strengthen patrols and crack down on illegal hunting activities.

In May, the administration also received a report from Taitung, where two Indigenous individuals found a Formosan black bear caught in a snare in the mountains. Although the agency dispatched a team to rescue the animal, the bear died, likely due to sepsis caused by an infected wound.

According to the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association, there were 23 Formosan black bear rescue cases in Taiwan between 2020 and 2023. In 2023, 11 rescue cases were reported, resulting in four deaths, six bears being released back into the wild, and one being placed in care. Of these cases, nine were caused by human-related hunting activities.