Two suspects charged for killing, burying Formosan black bear

Two men have been charged on suspicion of shooting dead a bear, removing the satellite tracking collar, and burying the animal in an attempt to hide the evidence in a remote mountain district in Nantou County earlier this month. Forestry Bureau staff monitoring the bear’s movements via a satellite tracking device went searching for the animal after the signal disappeared on May 6 in the vicinity of the Wujie communitiy in Renai Township. After searching the area where the signal

Read more

Taiwan Bear rescued from trap released after 8 month rehabilitation

A Formosan black bear rescued from an animal trap in Taitung County in December regained his freedom today after eight months recovering from wounds and surgery. Umas, as the bear was named, was found caught in a boar trap in the mountain district of Haiduan Township in December 2020. Estimated to be between one and two years old, Umas was found to have old and new injuries, including fractures, necrosis of his right forelimb, and gunshot wounds. After recovering from

Read more

“Mountain rat” confesses to killing endangered Formosan black bear

One of two leaders of a group of “mountain rats” – a term used in Taiwan to describe illegal loggers and timber thieves – confessed to killing, skinning, and eating a Formosan black bear, after bones were found in his camp, and pictures were found on his phone. Fifty police and 36 forestry personnel were mobilized May 7 to search for timber thieves in seven locations in Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taoyuan City mountain districts, after a four-month-long investigation,

Read more

Bear cub rescued after wandering into village, chased by dogs

A Formosan black bear cub was rescued and handed over to wildlife protection workers after it wandered into a village in Taitung County and was chased by dogs. Wildlife protection officials said that the bear cub was less than a year old, and appears to have become separated from its mother. The cub was sent for a check-up, and to receive care in preparation for release back into the wild. Mr Wang, the owner of a fishing pond in Haiduan

Read more