The Taiwan Black Bear Education Center has decided to open a wildlife hospital for Formosan black bears in Hualien. This is just one of the many initiatives the association is working on for the endangered species.
The center said that many Formosan black bears have been caught in traps in the past five to six years. When they are injured, they are often sent to the Taipei Zoo or to the animal shelter at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. The center’s founder Huang Mei-shiu says eastern Taiwan needs a hospital for wildlife to take care of the Formosan black bear.
The center is also working with car manufacturer Isuzu to launch the first black bear conservation van. The van will carry books, videos, and other educational material about black bears and take them to remote communities throughout Taiwan.
Huang said that awareness of the need to protect Formosan black bears has increased greatly in the past 20 years. The bears have also become popular mascots and images of them can be seen throughout Taiwan.