• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.363-365
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• 2015

The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is globally protected species and involved in a species restoration program by the Korea National Park Service. However, the bears could not be released into the wild were required regulation of population due to the limited space of breeding facility, so surgical castration was performed in two males. Bears were immobilized with a combination of 2 mg/kg tiletamine-zolazepam and $40{\mu}g/kg$ medetomidine, and general anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane via endotracheal tube intubation. Orchiectomy was carried out by the closed method using the LigaSure vessel sealing device through pre-scrotal incision. Subcutaneous tissues of the incision site were sutured by continuous pattern with absorbable suture material, and the skin incision was closed with tissue glue. The bears recovered uneventfully from general anesthesia after a duration of 58 min (bear A) and 53 min (bear B). Total surgical time was 26 min (bear A) and 24 min (bear B). No postoperative swelling or complications were observed. This is the first report that describes the use of the LigaSure for orchiectomy in the Asiatic black bear.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.438-444
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the learning curve of a low-volume veterinary surgeon for laparoscopic salpingectomy of Asiatic black bear. A total of 66 Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) were presented for sterilization using laparoscopic salpingectomy. These 66 bears were divided into three groups of 22 bears according to the order of surgery (A, B, and C groups, 22 bears per group). One veterinarian performed laparoscopic salpingectomy. There was no significant difference in age, body weight, or crown-rump length between groups. The hazard of completion for salpingectomy by 5 minutes was higher (p < 0.0001) in B and C groups than A group, whereas the hazard was not significant different between B and C groups. The factor that affected the hazard of completing salpingectomy by 5 minutes was heart rate, not age or weight. Operation time was 12.61 ± 8.04 minutes for group A, 5.35 ± 4.38 minutes for group B, and 2.80 ± 1.16 minutes for group C. The operation time for salpingectomy shortened over time. However, significant difference in operation time was present only between groups A and C (p = 0.001). The operation time for laparoscopic salpingectomy decreased rapidly for the first 7 bears (p < 0.05). It then decreased gradually until the 66th case. Operation time of laparoscopic salpingectomy was significantly decreased and stabilized after 33 cases (p < 0.05). As a result, the number of bears required for a low-volume veterinary surgeon to be proficient in laparoscopic salpingectomy is 33 or more.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.122-128
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the location and prospects of the bear shelves built by Asiatic black bears in the Jirisan National Park. Previous researchers have been analyzed bear shelves in terms of places for resting and eating, but we are going to analyze based on the prospect-and-refuge theory. Characteristics of the sites of bear shelves are measured through field survey and topographic analysis by using digital elevation model (DEM). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to evaluate the optimum location of bear shelves in terms of crown density. Man-made objects are identified by viewshed analysis based on geographical information system (GIS). Findings of this paper can be summarized as follows. First, most bear trees are located deep inside of the mountainous national park, slopes of 30~40 degrees, altitude of 400~1,200m, and relatively low vegetation density with NDVI value of 0.4~0.6 compared to the average NDVI of the park. Second, the average height of bear shelves is 12.44m, or 74% of the average height of bear trees. They are located at suitable places to observe nearby trails and other park facilities. Third, man-made objects within the 100m radius of bear trees include lodge, bear training center, beekeeping camp, and hiking trails. Thus we may temporarily conclude that one of the main criteria of the bear tree selection in the park has been to identify optimum places for the monitoring of human activities in their habitat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Ministry of Environment of Korea has been releasing Asiatic black bears since 2004 at Jirisan National Park. It exceeded the target number of Asiatic black bears in 2018. As of July 2020, in addition to 67 traceable bears, many Asiatic black bears are dispersed outside Jirisan National Park. Jirisan National Park is a very dense place with more than 3 million visitors every year. In this study, the roads and trails through Jirisan National Park were considered to be the main dispersion factors of Asiatic black bears, and the fragmentation analysis was conducted. As of July 2017, the length of roads and trails in Jirisan National Park was 363.4km. Based on this, Jirisan National Park was fragmented into 163 patches. There is only one place that maintains a single area of more than 50㎢ that is suitable for large mammals to inhabit, and 141 places are less than 5㎢. There are 6 patches of 24 to 200㎢ area suitable for living of large mammals including Asiatic black bears, in Jirisan National Park. Compared to the announcement made by the Korea National Park Service in 2014, activities of Asiatic black bears were rare in areas below 5㎢ area and the frequency of activities was high in more than 20㎢ area. This shows that human activities in protected areas such as national parks can directly affect the activities of wild animals, including Asiatic black bears. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the habitat of Asiatic black bears by reducing the pressure of visiting for Jirisan National Park. In addition, as a result of analyzing the fragmentation of the park's natural conservation zone 107.7km, 45% of the trail of Jirisan National Park, was opened, which is more fragmentation than other use zones. The park nature conservation zone accounts for about 32% of the total area of Jirisan National Park, but the average patch area is only 2.93㎢ and seven large shelters are located. Therefore the Asiatic black bears are negatively affected. This is the result of inconsistent national park use zone setting and actual park management. In overseas countries, research is active on the negative effects of human activity on ecosystems in protected areas. However, there is a lack of research of that in Korea. Thus, that research is required for protection area management in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.101-103
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.104-107
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.126-128
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.50-53
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• 2006