reas near Jade Mountain following the fruit bearing season of a specific kind of oak tree, according to a recent study conducted by local zoologists. The Formosan black bear, or ursus thibetanus formosanus, is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. The species, the largest mammal in Taiwan, usually inhabits forest areas at elevations between 1,000 meters and 3,500 meters.
Scientists believe that the bears leave their domain only when the food supply becomes scarce.
The zoologists, who have closely observed the black bear's activities for nearly a decade, reported Wednesday that the number of bears in the region laced with ring-cupped oaks always rises sharply from October to January, corresponding with the period when acorns are produced.
Hwang Mei-hsiu, assistant professor at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology and leader of the project, said the average bear population in the neighborhood between October and January is around 1.5 times that in February to September.
"Bears usually begin to arrive by late-October, and leave gradually after acorns become scarce; when there is no nuts at all, the bears disappear entirely as well," said Hwang during a thesis presentation organized by the Yushan National Park Administration, the supervising agency for the areas neighboring Jade Mountain (Yushan in Chinese).
Hwang, nicknamed "Mother Black Bear" for her contribution to the understanding and conservation of the endangered species, said during the years when ring-cupped oaks produce less fruits, the bears would more likely invade human territories to seek food supply.
Animal researchers suggested that the acorn production volume can be recognized as an index of the aggressiveness of wild black bears in October-January.
They also suggested that when the nut supply is expected to decrease in the year, an advanced warning could be issued to caution residents or tourists in the area of the danger of bears prowling activities.
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