Hualien Zhuoxi Black Bear Mother and Cub Rescued and Cared for One Year, Released Simultaneously in Taiwan's First Case

The Hualien Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the adult female bear was accidentally caught in a snare trap in the mountainous area last March. After being reported and rescued, she was cared for at the rescue center. Later, indigenous people reported a cub wandering in the same area. After monitoring and confirmation, the cub was successfully captured in the same month.
The Hualien Branch stated that after the mother bear was rescued, she underwent surgery and recovered well. When the cub was captured, it weighed only 11.5 kg and had not yet been weaned. It was then taken over by the WildOne Eastern Wildlife Rescue Center for care. Molecular biological identification confirmed that it was the cub of the mother bear caught in the snare trap.
The Hualien Branch said that from June to July last year, the team attempted to arrange for the black bear mother and cub to reconnect and live together. Observations showed limited interaction between the two bears, and no obvious parent-child relationship was exhibited, so individual care and training were adopted.
Starting last October, the cub entered a forest wilderness training ground for rewilding training, cultivating abilities such as foraging, climbing, environmental adaptation, and aversion to humans, successfully passing the release assessment.
On April 8, 2026, a pair of black bear mother and cub were released in Taiping Village, Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County. Staff conducted pre-release preparations to ensure safety and smooth operation. (Provided by Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency Hualien Branch) CNA reporter Chang Chi photo 1150408. After being cared for by the rescue team, the cub's weight grew to 46 kg by March this year, and all health check assessments indicated its ability to survive in the wild. The mother bear's health also stabilized, weighing 74 kg, also meeting the release conditions.
On March 11, the Hualien Branch held a pre-release briefing session in Zhongping Tribe, Zhuoxi Township, explaining the black bear mother and cub's rescue process, release assessment criteria, and subsequent monitoring methods to the indigenous people. The indigenous people expressed their approval and willingness to participate in reporting and response work after the release.
Today, before the release, the local Bunun people named the mother bear 'Uli,' meaning virtuous wife and good mother, and the cub 'Mua,' meaning cute and gentle little girl, treating them as members of the tribe and wishing them continued reproduction and prosperity in the forest.
After the ceremony, the team released the cub first at the end of the Zhongping Forest Road, using a method of not getting out of the vehicle to reduce human-bear contact. Approximately 30 minutes later, the mother bear was released. Both bears quickly left after exiting their cages, disappearing deep into the forest.
The Hualien Branch pointed out that after the release, continuous monitoring will be conducted through satellite collars and electronic fences, and an information feedback mechanism will be established with the chief of Taiping Village, allowing tribal members to track the black bears' movements. If they are found to enter the electronic fence area, early warning and prevention measures will be immediately activated.
The Hualien Branch urges the public to immediately report any black bear sightings or intrusions and strictly prohibits private capture or handling. The reporting hotline is 0800-000930 (You You You Save the Mountains and Forests). (Edited by Wu Su-rou) 1150408