'Endangered' Unidentified Asiatic Black Bear Captured in Deogyusan National Park

Photo of a half-moon bear body measurement (Source=Korea National Park Service)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Korea National Park Service announced on the 4th that it captured a first-class endangered wild species, an Asiatic black bear, without a transmitter near Sinpungnyeong in Deogyusan National Park.

The Asiatic black bear captured on the 31st of last month is a male with no signs of wearing a transmitter, weighing 141 kg, estimated to be 5 to 6 years old, and confirmed to be in good health.

Wounds presumed to be caused by a snare on the neck and a trap (jang-ae) on the left front paw were found.

The Park Service confirmed the habitat of the Asiatic black bear near Sambongsan in Deogyusan National Park through an unmanned sensor camera last November and has been continuously pursuing capture efforts.

They investigated the movement status of the Asiatic black bear, took photos with unmanned sensor cameras on June 11 and 25, and installed a live capture trap on the predicted movement path on the 2nd of last month.

Estimated left front paw injury of Chang-ae

The Park Service attached a transmitter to the captured Asiatic black bear and immediately released it. Genetic analysis will be conducted to clarify kinship or individual history with the restoration population in Jirisan.

Nam Seong-yeol, head of the Ecological Conservation Office at the National Park Research Institute of the Korea National Park Service, stated, "We plan to study the exact range of behavior through location tracking of the Asiatic black bear and confirm whether other individuals inhabit the area."

The Park Service plans to promote awareness activities in cooperation with the Jeonbuk Regional Environmental Office and Muju County to ensure safe hiking for visitors and local residents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.