Another black bear sighting: On the evening of August 18, staff from a mountaineering club assisting with mountain hut management captured close-up footage of a black bear boldly climbing kitchen shelves inside the Xiangyang Mountain Hut, showing no fear of humans. This marks the fourth such incident in just 10 days. Due to the alarming frequency, to prevent human-bear conflicts, the Taitung Forest District Office announced an emergency closure of the entire Jiannming Lake National Trail for 15 days, from August 22 to September 5. All accommodation bookings for the Xiangyang and Jiannming Lake huts, as well as the Jiannming Lake campsite, have been suspended during this period.
The Formosan black bear was previously spotted in the kitchen of the Xiangyang Mountain Hut on the evening of August 9 and early morning of August 11, and was driven away by hut staff. Around midnight on August 17, another hiker reportedly saw the bear near the warehouse beside the Jiannming Lake Mountain Hut. The next day, a storage box dragged out by the bear and bear droppings were found near the hut. Unexpectedly, late at night on August 18, the Xiangyang Mountain Hut once again reported a bear sighting, with footage capturing the animal in close proximity to humans, showing no signs of fear.
Huang Qunce, deputy director of the Taitung Forest District Office, stated that while past sightings of Formosan black bears near mountain huts were sporadic, there have been four incidents in just 10 days since August 9 this year — an unusually high frequency that may indicate human activity is affecting the bears’ natural behavior.
To ensure the safety of both the public and wildlife, the Taitung Forest District Office plans to convene wildlife ecology and behavior experts, mountaineering groups, local guides, and mountain hut management units during the 15-day closure period to discuss preventive measures against human-bear conflicts and future management strategies for the huts.
During the trail closure, the forest office will also improve the environment around huts frequently visited by bears and install additional infrared cameras for monitoring and recording. The Taitung Forest District Office once again urges hikers to properly secure food and dispose of kitchen waste off-site, avoid leaving any attractants in the mountains, and to curb their curiosity by cooperating with bear prevention measures.
According to data from the Taitung Forest District Office cited by Central News Agency, the Formosan black bear is an omnivore that primarily feeds on plants and generally avoids areas with frequent human activity. However, when natural food is scarce, they may be drawn to human food sources such as kitchen waste, rice, dry rations, fruits, and vegetables, especially at night. Once bears develop a taste for human food, they are less likely to leave and can become increasingly bold, losing their fear of humans — thereby increasing the chances of encounters and potential conflicts.
Huang Qunce, deputy director of the Taitung Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau, mentioned that a similar incident occurred in 2017 (Republic of China Year 106), when a black bear approached a mountain hut and the trail was closed for one and a half months. For hikers who have already applied to enter the area, all fees for hut accommodations will be fully refunded, and priority will be given for future bookings once the trail reopens. Applications for entry into the area have been suspended with immediate effect.
(China Times)