HUALIEN (TVBS News) — A Formosan black bear (台灣黑熊), Taiwan's largest land predator and an endangered species, died from gunshot wounds Monday (April 21) night after wildlife officials were forced to intervene in the remote Zhuoxi (卓溪) indigenous community in eastern Hualien County. The animal had created mounting tension among villagers by repeatedly killing local dogs and making threatening approaches toward residents.
The bear, officially tracked as YNP-BB02, had been released into the wild four years ago by researchers from Yushan National Park (玉山國家公園), Taiwan's largest alpine preserve. Officials from the Forestry Agency's Hualien Branch expressed profound regret over the bear's death while defending their decision as necessary for public safety, citing protocols established under Taiwan's Act on Wildlife Conservation (野生動物保育法).
Following the initial shooting, conservation authorities mobilized a substantial 28-member rescue team that included specialists from the WildOne Wildlife Conservation Association (野灣野生動物協會) and the Formosan Wild Sound Conservation Science Center (野聲). The team ultimately determined the bear's injuries were too severe and made the difficult decision to euthanize it humanely. The local Bunun (布農) indigenous people, who maintain traditional taboos against killing bears, now plan to conduct a purification ceremony in their Sinkan (中正) tribal area to prevent what they believe could bring misfortune to the community.
In response to growing wildlife-human conflicts, the Hualien Branch has implemented preventative measures by installing motion-activated sensor lights and alarm systems in homes deemed at high risk for animal encounters. Officials have urged local residents to obtain wildlife deterrents such as firecrackers and specialized bear bells from their Yuli (玉里) township workstation. The forestry agency has appealed for public understanding as they balance conservation goals with the safety concerns of vulnerable rural communities in Taiwan's mountainous eastern regions. ★
