A Formosan black bear known as Lanihu (拉尼琥), who was trapped in a snare and stranded in a tree near an industrial road last August in Taitung County’s Haiduan Township (海端), was successfully released back into the wild on Thursday, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said.
Lin Meng-yi (林孟怡), head of the agency’s nature conservation division at the Taitung branch, said that Lanihu hesitated when the cage was opened, peeking outside, but seemed to be reluctant to step out into the wilderness.
However, with encouragement from villagers, including Village warden Chiu Chi-chiang (邱志強) and those who reported and assisted in his rescue, namely Yu Ming-hsiung (余明雄) and Wang En-ling (王恩齡), the bear finally stepped out of the cage to begin his new life in the mountains, Lin said.
Photo: screen grab from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s YouTube channel
She said that indigenous people at the scene harnessed the spirits of the mountains, seeking their assistance in protecting the bear.
She added that the agency has received its first signal from the satellite attached to Lanihu and that it would continue to monitor his movements.
If Lanihu enters a warning zone, the agency would cooperate with the people living in the area and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of both humans and bears, Lin said.
The bear, aged between three and four, is named after Yu, whose indigenous name is “Lanihu.”
The agency explained that after a rescue operation conducted by its Taitung branch, the WildOne wildlife conservation association and local indigenous people in late August last year, the bear underwent seven months of medical care.
After his rescue, his left front foot was thought to be so badly injured that it might need to be amputated. However, after careful medical treatment, it was saved.
WildOne said while caring for Lanihu they observed that he was a cautious bear and highly alert around caregivers.
The organization said Lanihu also exhibited behaviors such as nest-building and climbing. Throughout his time in captivity, his behavior was stable and his physical condition has continued to improve — he even gained 10kg over the past seven months — making him eligible for release back into the wild.
The agency said that it was grateful to the local people for rescuing the bear and reporting what had happened, and to its partners from Kamcing Village who participated in projects focused on protecting Formosan black bears.
The agency said that it would continue to invite surrounding residents and communities living near the bears to join conservation and protection efforts to promote a friendly co-existence between humans and bears.
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