Hidden New Attraction in Hualien: The "Eastern Taiwan Black Bear Education Center" Filled with Adorable Teddy Bears

▲The newly opened Eastern Taiwan Black Bear Education Center on January 1 is located at the former site of Yuli Elementary School.

Reported and photographed by reporter Li Zi-yi / Hualien

Near the stinky tofu shop at Yuli Bridgehead in Hualien, there’s a newly hidden gem called the “Eastern Taiwan Black Bear Education Center,” packed with all kinds of teddy bears. It just opened on January 1, 2017, aiming to localize efforts and raise public awareness about black bear conservation.

▲%The exhibition space features various interactive elements, and there are also plush toys that kids can take photos with.

As soon as you step into the Taiwan Black Bear Education Center, you’ll see super cute footprints on the ground—modeled after the actual size of Taiwan black bear paw prints. These footprints lead all the way to a forest-themed backdrop ahead. All around, you’ll find various teddy bears of Taiwan black bears, including the now-defunct TransAsia Airlines mascot “Wei Bear.”

▲A bear-themed version of “The Creation of Adam.”

The education center is right next to Yushan National Park, and you can actually spot black bears in the mountains right in front. The exterior wall of the center is also uniquely designed—it collaborated with Song, a student from the local applied sciences department, to create a cute version of “The Creation of Adam” featuring the world’s eight most common bear species.

▲Taiwan black bears aren’t actually very tall, standing about 110–150 cm.

The Taiwan black bear is the only native bear species in Taiwan. Most people know it’s an endangered protected animal, but there are far fewer of them than you might think—only about 200–600 remain. They currently face threats such as habitat destruction and illegal hunting. It’s hoped that with the establishment of the Black Bear Education Center, the general public will gain a better understanding of the habits and related information about black bears, and work together to protect our Taiwan black bears.