Since last year, poultry farms, beekeeping operations, and a plum vinegar workshop along the mountainsides of Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County, have repeatedly been invaded by a Formosan black bear. On April 11, the Zhongzheng Tribe reported that the bear attacked and consumed three guard dogs tied outside a workers' shelter. On April 20, the bear was again sighted in a rice paddy just 50 meters from local residences, causing widespread fear among nearby residents.
Recent updates reveal that patrol personnel witnessed the bear attacking dogs once more. In an emergency, they fired a shot, seriously injuring the animal, which was subsequently euthanized due to the severity of its wounds.
According to reports from Liberty Times and China Times, the Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) received a report on April 11 from a resident surnamed Gao of the Zhongzheng Tribe about a black bear invading a chicken coop and consuming over ten chickens. Upon investigation, bear dens and feces were found nearby. Four infrared automatic cameras were installed to monitor the area. Farmers were advised to clear the chicken coops and relocate feed, chickens, and guard dogs to safe locations. However, due to delayed action, several chickens were killed by the bear, and the three guard dogs tied outside the door were also attacked.
The first dog was reported missing on April 14 and its carcass found on April 16. The automatic cameras captured the bear approaching the chicken coop on April 15 and attacking chained dogs on April 17. On April 20, residents spotted the bear near rice paddies just 50 meters from the village homes.
Deputy Director Zhu Yiqian of FANCA's Hualien branch reviewed the camera footage and identified the bear by a radio collar around its neck and distinctive missing toes on its right front paw. This bear, designated "YNP-BB02", was captured four years ago by scholar Huang Meixiu under the commission of Yushan National Park Headquarters on the Walami Trail in the park's eastern area. It was then released back into the wild and tracked since.
Notably, "YNP-BB02" had never triggered traps or shown aggressive behavior until recently, raising questions about the sudden change. The bear's tracked range extended from the north bank of the Lakulaku River near Provincial Highway 30 to upstream mountainous areas of the Qingshui River, often moving outside the national park boundaries. However, its GPS collar stopped transmitting after about 100 days, with the last signal from a cliff area outside the park. Researchers initially speculated the collar had fallen off or malfunctioned, but the Hualien branch confirmed the collar remained on the bear for four years, possibly burdening it physically.
The Yushan National Park Headquarters and FANCA coordinated to capture the bear alive, deploying five cameras around the tribe and nearby farmland to monitor its movements. Patrols involving community members and law enforcement were intensified to deter the bear using noise makers, flashlights, and other non-lethal methods.
On the evening of April 21, patrol members heard a dog's distress near a residence and found the bear attacking a black dog about 50 meters from the village. When the bear aggressively approached the patrol team after being shouted at, an officer fired a single shot in self-defense. The wounded bear collapsed in a ditch and was sedated before being taken to an animal hospital.
Medical examination revealed multiple spinal fractures causing paralysis in the bear's hind legs, a severely collapsed lung with pneumothorax, internal bleeding, and respiratory distress. Due to the severity and irreparability of its injuries, the bear was euthanized under deep anesthesia. Its carcass was sent to the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Research Institute for a full necropsy.
The bear's repeated predation on dogs and poultry over a ten-day period had alarmed residents, who expressed fear and concern for their safety. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency emphasized that although the bear's death was regrettable, the action was necessary and complied with Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Act. The agency also acknowledged the cultural sensitivity of the Bunun Indigenous community in Zhongzheng Village, who consider killing a black bear taboo, and attended a purification ritual held by the tribe to appease spirits.
To prevent future conflicts, FANCA plans to strengthen patrols with community cooperation, install deterrent devices, and work with local authorities to ensure public safety. The incident highlights the growing challenges of human-wildlife coexistence in rural Taiwan and the complexities involved in managing wildlife conservation alongside community protection.
