Black Bear Rescued from Snare with Help from Taitung Wuling Tribe Members

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Taitung Branch announced today that they received a report last night from the Wuling tribe in Yanping Township. A tribal patrol team discovered a Taiwanese black bear trapped in a snare during a patrol before the Sheer Ear Festival, in the indigenous reserve area 619 meters above sea level behind the tribe. The Taitung Branch stated that after receiving the report from the Wuling tribe members, they immediately joined forces with the WildOne Wildlife Hospital medical team for the rescue. Including 7 tribal members such as Qiu Wen-jun, Chairman of the Yanping Township Council, and Gu Jian-ming, Chairman of the Wuling Community Association, a total of 17 people participated in the rescue operation, demonstrating the success of community conservation and public-private cooperation. The Taitung Branch emphasized that the key to this successful rescue lies in the quick reporting and active assistance from the Wuling tribe members participating in the Taiwanese Black Bear Ecological Service Payment Program. The branch will soon award bonuses to thank the tribal members. Lin Meng-yi, Head of the Natural Conservation Section of the Taitung Branch, told CNA reporters that after examination, the black bear weighed approximately 36 kilograms and is a young male. Its right forelimb, trapped by the snare, showed only mild swelling and redness. It will be observed and cared for at the WildOne Wildlife Hospital for several days before being released back into the wild as soon as possible. Gu Jian-ming stated through the Taitung Branch that successfully rescuing the trapped black bear on the eve of the traditional Bunun Sheer Ear Festival is not only a concrete action for ecological conservation for the tribe but also imbues traditional culture with deeper contemporary meaning. (Editor: Chen Qing-fang) 1150410