• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.298-301
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• 2004

Pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography was performed for both pregnant and non-pregnant Asiatic black bears which were being under hibernation. Pregnancy was diagnosed for a pregnant bear by detecting images of heart-beat and vertebrae on ultrasonograph. Serum progesterone levels were measured for both pregnant and non-pregnant bears. The level of serum progesterone was 5.79 ng/ml for a pregnant bear and 0.76 ng/ml for a non-pregnant bear, respectively, thereby it was considered that measurement of serum progesterone level can be also useful for pregnancy diagnosis for Asiatic black bear.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2019

Habitat loss by industrialization, urbanization, and poaching reduced the population of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetabus ussuricus) population in South Korea in the late 20^th Century. In the early 2000s, the Korean Government had begun a restoration project of Asiatic black bear. In 2017, a bear was found in Mt. Sudosan, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, approximately 80 km from Mt. Jirisan where the bear was first released. Genetic analysis confirmed that this bear was one of the Jirisan bear population, estimating that this bear escaped from its habitat. After trapping this bear in Mt. Sudosan, it was rereleased again in Mt. Jirisan, but this bear moved again to Mt. Sudosan. After 2^nd trapping and releasing, this bear came back to Mt. Sudosan. In Mt. Sudosan, this bear covered a greater distance and moved more as compared to other Asiatic black bear in Mt. Jirisan. Today, this bear has its home range within Mt. Sudosan area after the third release, estimating that this bear is stable and active in this area. Our findings are the first case showing the interesting pattern of repetitive disperse activities and habitat expansion of Asiatic black bear. The results of this case are valuable information that can be used for wildlife conservation and restoration of endangered wildlife.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.52-54
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.154-158
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• 2023

The Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus, is among the most threatened or endangered species in Asia. For its conservation and management, sex identification of U. thibetanus using non-invasive samples (e.g., hair and/or feces) is potentially valuable. In this study, a non-invasive molecular method for sex identification of U. thibetanus samples collected from various countries was first utilized, and it was based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the amelogenin gene via PCRs. Thirty-three bear DNA samples, extracted not only from blood (n=9) but also from hair (n=18) and feces (n=6), were used. We performed sex-specific PCR amplifications of the amelogenin gene using a primer set, SE47 and SE48. The primer set could successfully amplify a single X-specific band for females and both X- and Y-specific bands for males from all blood (100%) and hair (100%) samples. In addition, the primer set could distinguish the sex of bears in four out of a total of six fecal samples (approximately 67%). This study's findings suggest that this molecular method can be applied to sex identification of Asiatic black bears from various Asian regions using non-invasive samples, such as hair and feces.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.246-258
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• 2009

This study was conducted for behavioral characteristic analysis of the Asiatic Black Bear in a limited space. Behaviors of eight Asiatic Black Bears were classified into 13 normal stances and locomotor activities, 15 normal maintenance behaviors, 9 locomotory compulsive behaviors, 2 non-locomotory compulsive behaviors through the 3 years of monitoring. The bears had originally been released into the Jiri National Park for Asiatic Black Bear Restoration Project and were withdrawn again because of several reasons such as habituation to humans, and apiary damage. Through the monitoring of 6 hours per day during 3 months, classified behaviors were analyzed based on sex, age, observing month, observing timing, captivity period, and captive form. The total rate of stereotypic behaviors was $26.51{\pm}13.38%$. Among these, RA(Rest_A) was rated high as $47.32{\pm}18.32%$. In addition, SP(Standard pace), HR(Head rear), EP(Extended pace) were most frequently observed behaviors. The time budget of TFS(Two feet stand), SA(Sniff_A) and SB(Sniff_B) on females and younger individuals were relatively higher than male and older individuals. So we confirmed that females and younger individuals had more wariness and curiosity. As the period of captivity took longer, the rate of stereotypic behaviors was higher and more stereotypic behaviors were observed in the afternoon. At night, behaviors related with resting like Rest-A, Rest-B, Lying down, Lying on abdomen, Sitting were more frequently observed. We concluded that the captive state could affect the behaviors of Asiatic Black Bear and long term research should be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.865-873
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• 2016

Since 2004, Asiatic Black Bear of the Jirisan National Park is subjected to the restoration project through the re-introduction by the Maritime Province of Siberia in Russia, North Korea, Northeastern part of China and Seoul Grand Park. The purpose of this study is to analyze diets with scat to identify Asiatic Black Bear's feeding habit and eating resources environment in the Jirisan National Park. 78 scats of Asiatic Black Bears were observed during the field studies of radio telemetry-marked bears and by chance in the Jrisan National Park, from 2005 to 2013. The relative frequency of occurrence demonstrated that the plants comprised the highest with 77%, followed by insects with 12.8%, mammals with 5.6%, birds with 0.5%, arthropoda with 0.5%, and others with 3.6%. Also, 52 scats among the collected scats that were measured for the ratio of food were subjected to dry weight, and plants were the highest with 91.2%, followed by mammals with 3.6%, insects with 1.0% and others with 4.2% in the order mentioned. Asiatic Black Bear's feed research demonstrated that the Asiatic Black Bear at Jirisan is omnivorous and that the vegetable food is the main feed instead of animal feed.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2016

This study aims at providing basic data to objectively evaluate the areas suitable for reintroduction of the species of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in order to effectively preserve the Asiatic black bears in the Korean protection areas including national parks, and for the species restoration success. To this end, this study predicted the potential habitats in East Asia, Southeast Asia and India, where there are the records of Asiatic black bears' appearances using the Maxent model and environmental variables related with climate, topography, road and land use. In addition, this study evaluated the effects of the relevant climate and environmental variables. This study also analyzed inhabitation range area suitable for Asiatic black and geographic change according to future climate change. As for the judgment accuracy of the Maxent model widely utilized for habitat distribution research of wildlife for preservation, AUC value was calculated as 0.893 (sd=0.121). This was useful in predicting Asiatic black bears' potential habitat and evaluate the habitat change characteristics according to future climate change. Compare to the distribution map of Asiatic black bears evaluated by IUCN, Habitat suitability by the Maxent model were regionally diverse in extant areas and low in the extinct areas from IUCN map. This can be the result reflecting the regional difference in the environmental conditions where Asiatic black bears inhabit. As for the environment affecting the potential habitat distribution of Asiatic black bears, inhabitation rate was the highest, according to land coverage type, compared to climate, topography and artificial factors like distance from road. Especially, the area of deciduous broadleaf forest was predicted to be preferred, in comparison with other land coverage types. Annual mean precipitation and the precipitation during the driest period were projected to affect more than temperature's annual range, and the inhabitation possibility was higher, as distance was farther from road. The reason is that Asiatic black bears are conjectured to prefer more stable area without human's intervention, as well as prey resource. The inhabitation range was predicted to be expanded gradually to the southern part of India, China's southeast coast and adjacent inland area, and Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia in the eastern coastal areas of Southeast Asia. The following areas are forecast to be the core areas, where Asiatic black bears can inhabit in the Asian region: Jeonnam, Jeonbuk and Gangwon areas in South Korea, Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, Chubu, Kanto and Tohoku's border area in Japan, and Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian border area in China. This study is expected to be used as basic data for the preservation and efficient management of Asiatic black bear's habitat, artificially introduced individual bear's release area selection, and the management of collision zones with humans.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.102-113
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• 2016

This study analyzes the geographic information system (GIS) and machine learning models to understand the relationship between the appearance of hibernation sites and habitats in order to systematically manage the habitat of Asiatic Black Bear(Ursus thibetanus ussuricus) inhabiting Jirisan National Park, South Korea. The most important environmental factors influencing the hibernation sites was found to be the inclination(41.4%), followed by altitude(20.4%), distance from the trail(10.9%), and age group(7.7%) in the order of their contribution. A comparison between the hibernation habitat and the normal habitat of Asiatic Black Bear indicated that the average altitude of the hibernation sites was 63m, whereas the average altitude of the normal habitat was approximately 400m. The average inclination was found to be $7^{\circ}$, and a preference for the steeper inclination of $12-43^{\circ}$ was also observed. The average distance of the hibernation site from the road was approximately 300m; the range of separation distance was found to be 1,300-2,400m. This was thought to be the result of a safer selection of winter hibernation site by preventing human contact and outside invasion. This study analyzes the habitat environmental factors for the selection of hibernation sites that prevent severe cold and other threats during the hibernation period in order to provide fundamental data for hibernation ecology and habitat management of Asiatic Black Bear.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2019

The amputation of body parts of wild animals can affect their activities in the wild and the behavior of mothers raising their cubs can cause behavioral characteristics in their offspring. In 2017, an Asiatic black bear was caught in a snare at the Jirisan National Park and had a right forefoot amputation. It was released into the wild the same year and gave birth to two cubs. The seasonal analysis of the behavioral rites of five females who gave birth in the same year as this individual showed specific home ranges, activity altitudes, and movement distances compared to other populations. Physical disabilities in the mother could lead to difficulties in food activity, hibernation, and cub-rearing, but the bear's maternal instincts helped to overcome difficulties in the wild and ensure the cubs' survival. It also became a special experience in the process of promoting the restoration of Asiatic black bears at Jirisan National Park. Although the Asiatic black bear's cubs, which grew up in difficult conditions compared to other populations, are not currently causing problems, continuous monitoring will help determine the success of the disabled mother cub-rearing study. Furthermore, these case studies will be used to establish long-term management directions and plans for conflicts with people from various perspectives.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.41-47
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• 2011

This study was carried out to provide basic information for assessment conditions as habitat to conserve and restore asiatic black bear released in Jirisan National Park. The field investigation at Piagol, Bitjeom, Jangdanggol, Baemsagol, Chilseon valley, and Hanshin valley which checked for habitat of released asiatic black bear were conducted from 2008 to 2010. There were no obvious differences in home range size of asiatic black bear by study year. The seasonal home ranges were analyzed $25.64km^2$ for males and $17.57km^2$ for female in spring, $73.02km^2$ for males and $27.45km^2$ for females in summer, $41.58km^2$ for males and $13.26km^2$ for females in fall, and $6.11km^2$ for males and $2.89km^2$ for females in winter based on 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) method, respectively. In average elevation by gender of asiatic black bear, the male was higher than the female. respectively. Average elevation by season were $894{\pm}33m$ in spring, $852{\pm}20m$ in summer, $985{\pm}67m$ in fall, and $996{\pm}26m$ in winter, respectively.