Footprints Return After Half a Century: Taitung Becomes 'Bear Country' Again
After 50 years, Taiwan black bears have returned to the South Cross-Island Highway area in Taitung. With sightings increasing since 2019, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency has implemented an 'Ecological Service Payment' program to foster coexistence, providing compensation and rewards for monitoring and reporting bear activity to prevent human-bear conflicts.
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- 📰 Published: May 24, 2026 at 10:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 24, 2026 at 10:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 20:49 (178h 18m after Collected)
In April 2025, a gunshot rang out, and a Taiwan black bear attempting to attack a human was shot by a ranger, highlighting the shrinking distance between bears and people. This special report focuses on the serious issue of potential human-bear conflicts in Taiwan, exploring the voices of villagers, historical context, lessons from Japan, expert opinions, and government policies to find a path toward safe coexistence.
Moving south from Hualien's Zhuoxi Township to Taitung's Guanshan Township, the South Cross-Island Highway area had not seen human-bear encounters since the 'Little Black Bear Incident' over 50 years ago. However, after half a century, the dense appearance of black bears has turned Taitung back into 'Bear Country.'
On November 8, 2014, at Guanshan Elementary School's sports day, a 'little black bear'—a taxidermy specimen—participated in the parade. Former principal Tseng Shu-yu revealed that over 50 years ago, the school had a small zoo. A Bunun tribe member from the Wulu tribe had found a lost bear cub and given it to the school. As it grew, it became dangerous, leading to its culling and preservation as a specimen. Since then, human-bear contact was rare.
However, after half a century, a train accident marked the return of bear footprints. In July 2011, a train struck an 'unknown animal' on the Haiduan Bridge. Professor Hwang Mei-hsiu confirmed it was a Taiwan black bear. In June 2019, a bear appeared at Wulu Elementary School, and a substitute soldier witnessed it at close range. Since then, bears have frequently appeared in Haiduan Township.
To prevent conflicts, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency established a 'Black Bear Reporting Platform' in 2020. In September 2022, they launched the 'Taiwan Black Bear Ecological Service Payment' program, providing rewards for monitoring and reporting. Currently, 177 tribal members are participating. In April 2024, a farmer received compensation and a reward after a bear raided his chicken coop. Last year, six 'Bear Repelling Teams' were also established.
Moving south from Hualien's Zhuoxi Township to Taitung's Guanshan Township, the South Cross-Island Highway area had not seen human-bear encounters since the 'Little Black Bear Incident' over 50 years ago. However, after half a century, the dense appearance of black bears has turned Taitung back into 'Bear Country.'
On November 8, 2014, at Guanshan Elementary School's sports day, a 'little black bear'—a taxidermy specimen—participated in the parade. Former principal Tseng Shu-yu revealed that over 50 years ago, the school had a small zoo. A Bunun tribe member from the Wulu tribe had found a lost bear cub and given it to the school. As it grew, it became dangerous, leading to its culling and preservation as a specimen. Since then, human-bear contact was rare.
However, after half a century, a train accident marked the return of bear footprints. In July 2011, a train struck an 'unknown animal' on the Haiduan Bridge. Professor Hwang Mei-hsiu confirmed it was a Taiwan black bear. In June 2019, a bear appeared at Wulu Elementary School, and a substitute soldier witnessed it at close range. Since then, bears have frequently appeared in Haiduan Township.
To prevent conflicts, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency established a 'Black Bear Reporting Platform' in 2020. In September 2022, they launched the 'Taiwan Black Bear Ecological Service Payment' program, providing rewards for monitoring and reporting. Currently, 177 tribal members are participating. In April 2024, a farmer received compensation and a reward after a bear raided his chicken coop. Last year, six 'Bear Repelling Teams' were also established.
FAQ
What is the bear policy in Taitung?
A coexistence strategy using reporting networks and incentive payments.