TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Indigenous hunters in Taichung have voluntarily removed animal traps from their traditional hunting grounds after recent evidence confirmed the area as a core habitat for the Formosan black bear, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said Friday.

Infrared cameras installed by the Taoshan tribe’s patrol team captured footage of a large adult Formosan black bear in March 2023 during a routine patrol. The previous year, the same location recorded a sub-adult bear around the same season, according to CNA.

Nestled in Heping District's mountains and surrounded by abundant natural resources, the Taoshan tribe is a secluded Atayal community of about 600 people living in 200 households. The area is known for its pristine ecosystem, favorable geography, plentiful waterways, and blossoming peach trees, according to the Ministry of Culture and the Taichung Tourism and Travel Bureau.

The repeated sightings suggest the area has become a stable and vital habitat for this protected species.

Taoshan Deputy Chief Chen Jung-wen (陳榮文) said he had long noticed signs of bear activity in the region. After the recent confirmation, he and other hunters chose to remove their traps and share information on hunting areas to aid conservation efforts.

The Formosan black bear, classified as endangered under the Wildlife Conservation Act since 1989, has yet to show significant population recovery. Ongoing threats include illegal hunting, habitat destruction, road construction, and recreational disturbances.

Wildlife officials emphasized that the bears’ seasonal movements and repeated sightings highlight the importance of the area as a core habitat.