TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Formosan black bear was sighted for the first time in Hualien’s Lishan Village on Saturday, according to the Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency.

The branch said a resident surnamed Ho reported in the morning that a bear had attacked chickens, per CNA. Staff were dispatched and infrared cameras were installed to monitor the area.

Around 7 p.m., Ho reported another sighting near a work shed, and footage confirmed the incident. With Ho’s assistance, officials set two cage traps and captured the bear at about 9:46 p.m.

The agency said the bear is a young male, weighing 12.3 kilograms and measuring 99.5 centimeters in length. It appeared undernourished but had no visible external injuries.

The bear was transferred to the East Taiwan Wildlife Rescue Center’s WildOne Animal Hospital in Pingtung for examination. The hospital will provide nutritional support and health monitoring, after which the agency will assess whether the animal can be released back into the wild, the branch said.

Under the Formosan Black Bear Ecological Service Payment Program, Ho will receive NT$3,000 (US$96.85) for reporting the incident, plus NT$5,000 for helping install infrared cameras and maintaining monitoring for more than a month, the agency said.

Deputy Director Chu Yi-chien (朱懿千) reminded residents to store food, feed, kitchen waste, and garbage properly to reduce the risk of attracting bears. Those who spot a bear or tracks should keep their distance, leave the area, and call the 24-hour hotline: 0800-000930.

Formosan black bears are an endangered species, with only around 200–600 left in Taiwan.