"Never Run Away While Showing Your Back"... The Moon Bear Has Started Activity, What to Do If You Encounter One in Jirisan

Recently, Asiatic black bears in the Jirisan area have begun to become active, requiring caution from hikers.

As of this year, there are 86 Asiatic black bears living in the Jirisan area. This includes 7 cubs born this year.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Environment announced, "Recently, the Asiatic black bears in the Jirisan area have ended their hibernation and started to become active."

The Asiatic black bear sometimes uses hollow old trees as winter dens. A bear that has awakened from hibernation is peeking its head out.

원본보기 아이콘

Visitors should also be cautious during the active period of the Asiatic black bears.

The Ministry of Environment urged, "When visiting Jirisan, only use designated trails," and added, "Mother bears with cubs have strong protective instincts, so extra caution is necessary."

Analysis of over 30,000 location data points of Asiatic black bears collected from 2013 to 2022 showed that only 0.44% of observations were within 10 meters of trails. Within 100 meters was 2.86%, and within 1 kilometer was 61.43%, indicating that the bears tend to be more active the farther they are from the trails.

The Korea National Park Service (Director Song Hyung-geun) explained, "This result shows that Asiatic black bears have a strong wariness and avoidance tendency toward humans, mainly inhabiting deep forests away from trails frequently used by visitors."

The Ministry of Environment and the Park Service plan to promote this information by installing banners warning of Asiatic black bear appearances at 450 locations including main trails and side path entrances, and distributing safety items such as whistles and bells to hikers to prevent accidents.

They also plan to increase the number of unmanned announcement systems from 100 to 120 and provide guidance on how to respond if encountering an Asiatic black bear at shelters and trails.

How to respond when encountering an Asiatic black bear.
[Photo by Korea National Park Service website capture]

원본보기 아이콘

If you encounter an Asiatic black bear up close, it is best to show your back or avoid eye contact and back away to increase distance. If you see a bear from afar, quietly leave the area. If the bear attacks, resist using tools such as sticks.

The authorities plan to work with local residents, local governments, and civic groups to remove threats to Asiatic black bear habitats such as traps and snares, as well as to promote and enforce anti-poaching measures.

The Park Service stated, "We will actively promote activities to ensure healthy coexistence between Asiatic black bears and humans in nature."

Meanwhile, during the Japanese colonial period, 1,039 Asiatic black bears were sacrificed in a 'pest control' campaign aimed at reducing damage caused by wild animals, and after liberation, the species faced extinction threats due to war and poaching.

Later, in 2000, wild Asiatic black bears were spotted again, with estimates that about five bears inhabited Jirisan, and a restoration project for Asiatic black bears began in 2004.

The Asiatic black bear is a protected species designated as a first-class endangered wild animal and is listed as 'Vulnerable (VU)' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.