Formosan Black Bear "Da Qu-ali" Caught After Foraging, Loses 28 Kilograms Due to Winter Food Scarcity

Last night, residents in Yuli Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, spotted a Formosan black bear roaming the streets of Yuan Cheng Community. The bear was also seen in an orchard and a school during the evening. The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's Hualien branch confirmed that the bear was Da Qu-ali, which had been released into the wild last year.

A capture operation was initiated in the orchard, and Da Qu-ali was successfully caught around 6 AM today. Upon examination, it was found that the bear had lost 28 kg, weighing 63 kg, and had new wounds on its left hind leg due to wear and tear. The bear was sent to the Wild Bay Animal Hospital for a thorough health check.

According to the Hualien branch, Da Qu-ali is an adult male black bear. It was rescued in late March last year after repeatedly approaching settlements and getting trapped. After eight months of treatment and rehabilitation for injuries to its left hind leg, it was confirmed that the bear had no issues with foraging or climbing trees in the wild. Da Qu-ali was released on December 4, 2023, with a satellite tracking collar.

After its release, Da Qu-ali went to Yushan National Park to hibernate. It began moving to lower mountain areas in February and entered the agency's electronic fence area by late February. From March 4, it frequently visited a mango orchard, eating rotten meat used to attract fruit flies. The bear occasionally walked on roads in Yuan Cheng Village and even entered the parking lot of Yuan Cheng Elementary School, where it was spotted by teachers.

To prevent conflicts between humans and bears, the Hualien branch set up an online group to inform residents about Da Qu-ali's movements and provide safety tips. On the evening of March 8, a resident encountered Da Qu-ali on the road and recorded a video that went viral. Due to the bear's frequent visits to orchards and houses, the branch set up a barrel trap and successfully captured it this morning.

Initial examination by the Wild Bay team showed that Da Qu-ali was significantly thinner than when it was released, due to food scarcity during winter. Its weight had dropped from 91 kg to 63 kg, and the previously healed wound on its left hind leg had developed new injuries due to wear. The bear was sent for further examination and assessment of its health and behavior.

The Hualien branch reminds residents that areas south of Rueisuei Township are now part of the black bear activity zone. If encountered, people should remain calm, slowly back away, and not approach the bear. If driving and encountering a bear, drivers should pull over safely and let the bear leave before slowly driving away. Residents are advised not to approach or surround the bear and to report any sightings to the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (0800-000930).