International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group August 2010 Vol. 19 no. 3 © Neil D’Cruz The cruel practice of dancing sloth bears in India has nearly been extinguished through concerted efforts of NGOs. For the full story, see page 19.

IBA websites: www.bearbiology.org www.bearbiology.com Ursus website: www.ursusjournal.com Table of Contents

Council News 18 Sloth Bear Expert Team (SLBET) Report 3 From the President 19 Status of Indian Dancing Bears 4 IBA Experience and Exchange Grants 2011: 19 Giant Panda Research and Conservation in Deadline for Applications – 1 December 2010 China 4 Election of IBA Officers and Councilors 19 Captive Bear Expert Team (CBET) Report 19th IBA Conference 20 European Carnivore Campaign: raising 5 19th International Conference for Bear awareness and funding for bear conservation Research and Management – Tbilisi, Georgia 22 International Team Cooperates on Kodiak 5 Session 1 - Conservation of Brown Bears Bear Research 6 Session 2 - Engaging People in Successful 24 Bear Specialist Group Coordinating Conservation Committee 7 Session 4 - Bear Management Americas 9 Session 5 – Bear Genetics 25 One Very Old Bear 9 Session 6 - Bear Behavior and Behavioral 26 Soliciting Public Input on a Draft Bear Ecology Management Plan 11 Session 7 - Bear Movement and Habitat Use 26 Facial markings of Andean bears – 12 Workshop on Captive Bear Issues and their Can YOU tell one from another? Management: the bear sanctuaries 27 Presence of the Andean Bear (Tremarctos Bear Specialist Group ornatus) in the Yungas of Puno, Peru's 15 Status and Conservation of Eurasian Bears Southernmost Record 15 European Brown Bear Expert Team (EBBET) Report Captive Bears 29 Captive Bear News: highlighting 16 Status and Conservation of Brown Bears in the Pyrenees professionals behind the scenes 16 Past and Present Distribution of the Black Student Forum and Brown Bears of Asia 31 Georgia Student Session 16 North Asian Brown Bear Expert Team 32 Brasov to Tbilisi – a road trip to the IBA (NABBET) Report 32 Truman’s List Serve 16 South Asian Brown Bear Expert Team Bears in Culture (SABBET) Report 33 A Review — Shooting in the Wild: 17 Asiatic Black Bear Expert Team an insider’s account of making movies (ABBET) Report in the animal kingdom 17 Dachigam National Park, Kashmir, India: why are black bears so abundant? IBA 34 IBA Membership Application 18 Sun Bear Expert Team (SBET) Report 18 Sun Bear Conservation Issues in Indonesia 36 IBA Publications Order Form 18 Confronting the Trade in Bear Parts and 37 IBA Officers and Council Bear Farms of Southeast Asia 38 IBA Mission Statement

Cover photo courtesy of Neil D’Cruz.

International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564, quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) Editors: Tanya Rosen (Managing), Jordan Schaul (Correspondence), Janissa Balcomb (Layout), Jim Tomlin (Production/Distribution) PO Box 462, Brookeville MD 20833 USA, Phone: +1 415-321-8369, Fax: +1 415-321-8637 Email: [email protected], Websites: www.bearbiology.com www.bearbiology.org Back issues are available at www.bearbiology.com Editorial Policy International Bear News welcomes articles about biology, conservation, and management of the world’s eight bear species. Submissions of about 750 words are preferred, and photos, drawings, and charts are appreciated. Submissions to [email protected] are preferred; otherwise, mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject, and edit submissions. Deadline for the Novemer 2010 issue is 5 October 2010. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted – Do not reproduce without permission. Membership Use the form on page 34 or go to www.bearbiology.com to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information.  International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Council News 2012: one from Greece (ARCTUROS) bears in Taiwan, ultimately leading From the President and one from India (Wildlife Trust to capture and radiotracking of 15 of India and Wildlife Institute of bears. Ever since, her life has been Frank T. van Manen India). After long but constructive devoted to learning more about this U.S. Geological Survey/University of deliberations, Council voted to accept elusive animal and to raise awareness Tennessee the India bid. An important consider- among the public and policymakers, Dept. of Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries ation for this decision was the current which has been extremely challeng- 274 Ellington Hall status of Asian bear populations and ing. Although exact estimates are not Knoxville TN 37996, USA the critical importance of drawing available, this population is small and Email: [email protected] attention to the conservation plight very likely decreasing. Mei-Hsiu has of sun bears, Asiatic black bears, been a major force in getting much Georgia Conference a and sloth bears. As Dave Garshelis needed recognition of this species Great Success pointed out during the Bear Specialist in Taiwan. She developed a website The 19th International Conference Group (BSG) session at the Georgia (http://meibear.npust.edu.tw/English/ on Bear Research and Management conference, some populations of these index.asp) to inform the public about in Tbilisi, Georgia was a tremendous species may be disappearing before the Formosan black bear. Her dedica- success! Much of the credit goes our eyes in some instances without tion to this cause has earned her the to the host organization, NACRES anyone noticing (e.g., it seems sun nickname of “Mother Bear” among the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation bears and sloth bears in Bangladesh native people, an appropriate name for and Research, particularly Levan have gone extinct over the last decade someone who cares deeply about the Butkhuzi, Bejan Lortkipanidze, Irakli or so). As IBA members I am sure you plight of this species and the health of Shavgulidze, Nino Dadiani, and many share my concerns about such situa- the forest ecosystems that it needs for others who helped out. The techni- tions. It was Council’s firm belief that survival. That dedication was again cal program was of high quality and IBA has a duty to act upon this. We evident recently as she organized the careful planning of the presentations, have always regarded our conferences International Symposium for Con- breaks, and social events provided as a way to draw attention to local and servation of the Asiatic Black Bear in plenty time for networking and social- regional bear conservation concerns Taipei in November 2009, which was izing. You will find a summary of the and Council felt that this is the time very successful and brought together sessions in this issue of the newsletter. to do so in Asia. The conference will scientists and managers from many of This was the first conference where likely be in late 2012 and will be held the Asiatic black bear range countries. we had a Bear Specialist Group (BSG) in Delhi. More information will be Mei-Hsiu received her Ph.D. from session as part of the regular confer- forthcoming in upcoming newsletters. the University of Minnesota in 2003 ence program and I advocate we make and is now an Assistant Professor at this session a standard part of the 2009 President’s Award goes the Institute of Wildlife Conservation conference program. at National Pingtung University of Once, again, our IBA “Conference to Mei-Hsiu Hwang Science and Technology. She is a co- It has been a long tradition for the formula” for the mid-week field trips chair of the Asiatic Black Bear expert IBA President to annually recognize was very successful, allowing us to team and is currently serving on IBA someone who has made significant break away from the formalities and Council as well. Mei-Hsiu, many contributions to bear conservation or enjoy the incredible scenery and thanks for all your efforts on behalf of our organization. I am very pleased culture that Georgia has to offer. The bear conservation! to announce that Mei-Hsiu Hwang is gala dinner, with Georgian song and the recipient of the 2009 President’s dance, was equally memorable and I Award. Council Business hope I got away without any compro- As many of you know, Mei-Hsiu has Before the start of the Georgia mising photos from the dance floor! tirelessly pursued the goal of securing Conference, Council met for a full Photos of the conference and other the future of Asiatic black bears in day to deal with a number of impor- information will soon be available so Taiwan (Formosan black bear) and tant issues. Besides attending the please visit the website: http://www. elsewhere. Her field studies on the presentations of the two bids for the nacres.org/bearconference/index.html Formosan black bear began about 12 next Eurasian conference, we also years ago in the inaccessible Dafen discussed a number of other confer- Next Eurasian Conference: mountain area in Yushan National ence issues, including getting back on India! Park, where she worked closely with track with our conference schedule. We received two excellent bids the native Bunun people. This was Our upcoming conferences should for the next Eurasian Conference in the first field study of Asiatic black go a long way in doing so. We also discussed IBA finances and options to

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3  Council News better deal with operating costs in the long term. Our journal Ursus is doing IBA Experience and Election of IBA well: Ursus is the prime source for sci- Exchange Grants Officers and entific information and thought-pro- voking essays on bears and articles are 2011: Deadline Councilors now more accessible than ever thanks for Applications – in large part to Editor Rich Harris. The Nominations Committee is Given the taxon specific nature of 1 December 2010 pleased to announce the following the journal, the impact factor (0.911 list of candidates, thus far, for the fall, and increasing) and journal ranking Ole Jakob Sorensen 2010, election of IBA Officers and (70 among 125 zoology journals) are Nord-Trondelag University College Councilors. The role of the Nomina- great and I strongly encourage you to Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences tions Committee, in assembling this keep submitting your articles to Ursus. and Information Technology list, has been to 1) accept nomina- International Bear News is undergo- Box 2501. N-7729 Steinkjer, Norway tions and self-nominations from the ing a gradual transition and so far the Phone: +47 74112052 (Office) or membership and 2) recruit additional response to the electronic newsletter mobile phone +47 91804899. candidates where necessary to provide in February has been positive. This is Email: [email protected] voting members with a spectrum of the second electronic newsletter and strong candidates to choose among. I again encourage you to provide any Please note that the deadline for • For President: suggestions for improvements. Our applying for IBA’s Experience and Frank van Manen (incumbent) Exchange (E&E) grants program for website will also undergo gradual • For Vice President: 2011 is 1 December 2010. This means changes and we will be investing more Harry Reynolds (currently on the that both of IBA’s grants programs, volunteer labor into keeping the site Council as Past President) E&E and Research and Conservation updated and relevant. Given that IBA Chris Servheen Council members all do their work for (R&C) grants, now share the same IBA in addition to their normal jobs, application deadline. • For Secretary: we discussed assignment of specific E&E grants are an excellent way to Diana Doan-Crider (incumbent) tasks to each Council member as a gain experience and international per- Jeff Stetz way to become more proactive. spective, benefit from others’ exper- • For Treasurer: Finally, we developed the outline tise in a field setting, and initiate or Cecily Costello (incumbent) strengthen across-project collabora- for a strategic plan, which should help • For Council: tions. Exchanges should be designed us guide our efforts in the long run. Mike Proctor (incumbent) to last several weeks to several For example, in five years, we hope to Brian Scheick months, must be of mutual interest for double the amount of grants that IBA Andres Ordiz both hosts and visiting researchers, gives out through its Research and Martyn Obbard and should lay the groundwork for Conservation Grants, travel Grants, S. Sathyakumar continuing partnership. Grants are and Experience and Exchange Grants Lily Peacock awarded for up to US$1500 to help programs and to have as many mem- Wong Siew Te offset the costs of travel. Applications bers in Eurasia and South America as Toru Oi we have in North America. Regarding should demonstrate efforts by both that second goal, we already are on parties to find and provide supple- Please note that nominations are our way with many new members mental support for the exchange still open. Any IBA member is eligible signing up in recent months (we project, e.g. in-kind support such as to run for office. You may nominate now have more than 500 members). complimentary food and lodging for yourself or someone else by providing Clearly, we have a long list of “action the visiting exchange partner. name and contact information to the items” that we will be tackling in the Application information and forms IBA Secretary, Diana Doan-Crider, coming months and we will keep you can be found on the IBA website, [email protected], by 30 Sep- informed through the newsletter, at www.bearbiology.com. For other tember. You must verify that the website, and occasional IBA “e-blast.” questions, contact Ole Jakob Sorensen, nominee is an IBA member in good E&E program chair, at the above standing (dues are up to date) and will address.

 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Council News serve if elected. Candidates will be Council seats are “at-large” and will and a 4th Council seat will be filled asked to provide personal statements be filled from a pool of candidates by from the pool of candidates. However, regarding their qualifications and the three receiving the highest num- if he is not re-elected, he automatically interest in seeking office, which will ber of votes. If Frank van Manen is re- serves as past president for the next be published and distributed to IBA elected as president, then the position term. members at the time of the vote. of IBA past-president becomes vacant

IBA Conference 19th International Conference for Bear Research and Management – Tbilisi, Georgia Reports of the Sessions

Session 1 - Conservation of Brown Bears

Session Chair: Frank T. van Manen, U.S. Geological Survey Email: [email protected]

The opening session of the confer- ence was an excellent example of how IBA President Frank van Manen far we have come along in our science Medicine Vienna) presented the Based on a combination of data sourc- of estimating and monitoring bear second paper, featuring the failure es, the population seems to be stable populations, thanks primarily to ad- of a reintroduction of brown bears or increasing and harvest pressure has vances in DNA sampling and analysis in central Austria, which started remained stable over the past decade. techniques. The session began with a in 1989. Although the results were Although poaching for bear parts may presentation by Alberto Fernández-Gil promising early on, the population have decreased, poaching for meat et al. (Estación Biológica Doñana), steadily declined since reaching a high and sports may be on the increase. who developed a systematic survey of 12 in 1999. High mortality was the Human-bear conflicts remain an method of the western Cantabrian primary reason for the decline and issue, of which a sizeable proportion brown bear population in Spain. illegal killings are suspected as one of (11%) involved attacks on humans. Based on direct observation from 69 the causes. The authors did a great job Clearly, increased public awareness fixed locations, which were visited identifying the socio-political issues of bear safety will be important. Jon five times in Spring, they obtained that played a role, with the lack of Swenson presented a paper on behalf 84 observations of bears. Account- political will being a primary issue. of Jonas Kindberg (Swedish University ing for detection probability as a We do not often hear about failures of Agricultural Sciences) and several function of the size of the area being but the lessons from this project are other co-authors. They used an inno- surveyed, search duration, time of profound. Ivan Seryodkin (Pacific vative approach to determine brown day, observer, and distance from the Geographical Institute, Russia) and bear population trends in Sweden observers, they determined density John Paczkowski focused on a glob- using an effort-corrected index based was 2.4–3.1 bears/100 km². Georg ally important population of brown on observations from moose hunt- Rauer et al. (University of Veterinary bears in the Kamchatka peninsula. ers. Besides being cost-effective, an

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3  19th IBA Conference important advantage was that many that the conservation status of grizzly genetic monitoring program in observation hours were obtained bears in Northern Continental Divide this region so expect more detailed (>2 million hours/year in this study). Ecosystem may be improving. Based information coming out on this study The index corresponded well with on the most extensive DNA-based in the future. density estimates from DNA surveys, surveys of any bear population to date, suggesting that reliable population the estimated population size of 765 Session 2 - Engaging data can be obtained using volunteer was greater than previous estimates. effort. Using Monte Carlo procedures, Occupied habitat also has increased People in Successful the combination of the two popula- substantially since 1993 and genetic Conservation tion survey techniques resulted in a interchange may have increased in population estimate of 2950 to 3492 areas where gene flow has historically Session Chair: bears in Sweden in 2008. The next been low. However, there are several Mike Gibeau paper was presented by Paolo Ciucci et concerns, including relatively high Email: [email protected] al. from Sapienza University of Rome. human-caused mortality of females They discussed the demography of and genetic data indicating fragmen- By design this session focused the small brown bear populations in tation in association with a major on people rather than bears and the Apennine Mountains in central highway/settlement corridor in the highlighted four talks about our role Italy. This study is a good example of region. The final paper in this session in bear conservation. The session pilot studies in early years leading to was presented by Alexander Kopatz started with Mike Gibeau’s discussion well-designed studies, incorporating (University of Oulu, Finland) and of ways to involve people in meaning- multiple data sources, in later years. included 17 co-authors! The authors ful dialogue using the example of griz- The study generated estimates of studied genetic structure and diversity zly bear issues in Banff National Park. 40 in 2004 to 43 in 2008. Based on of brown bears among four study Resolving these “wicked” problems age-structured models, population areas in the border region of Finland, hinges upon a willingness for organi- growth was primarily affected by Norway, and northwestern Russia. zational change and active learning adult female survival. Conservation Based on a sample of 159 bears, by participants. Ali Nawaz then of this population will depend on analyses showed little differentiation presented a case study from Pakistan reducing human-caused mortality, between the four populations. There where community participation particularly of adult females, and was evidence of isolation-by-distance has been a strong element in brown allowing natural expansion of cur- and genetic assignment tests indicated bear and snow leopard conservation. rent bear range. Kate Kendall et al. a few migrants per generation. This These community projects offer (U.S. Geological Survey) indicated is just the beginning of a long-term opportunities to livestock owners and general community members to increase their household income in return for a commitment to protect predators and their natural prey. Next, Seth Wilson presented a case study from the northwest United States where a prototype conserva- tion effort is underway which actively engages the local commu- nity in data collection, community-based monitoring, and participatory projects. Wilson argues that grizzly bear popula- tion persistence is Main Session largely governed by

 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 19th IBA Conference the choices people make, their fects of harvesting on demography of visits at the baiting sites but the fat behaviors and practices, and ulti- a population that is shared by Slovenia depths of bears shot near baiting sites mately where people choose to allow and Croatia. Approximately 25% of the were greater. It was concluded that bears to live. The session concluded bears living in Slovenia were removed in eastern Finland bears are actively with Alistair Bath discussing how he each year. Using virtual population hunted with dogs which may keep used a human dimensions facilitated analysis and stochastic age- and them adequately wary of humans. workshop approach as an alternative sex- structured models the authors Shyamala Ratnayeke (in co-au- to gain complete consensus between all interest groups in building a brown bear management plan in Bulgaria. This approach allowed a diverse group of interests to effectively work toward a common agreed upon vision. This session was a response to several suggestions to see more talks on conservation or management applications and successful examples of conservation actions. The intent of this effort was to harvest lessons from others, hear about what works and what does not, how involvement of local people and political forces shape conservation and share specific success stories in conservation. To that end the session met the objectives and we look forward to future confer- ences where more success stories can Banquet Mixer be highlighted.. have shown that such high removal thorship with Frank Van Manen) Session 4 - Bear rates were only possible because of presented how camera trapping can a steady influx of immigrating bears be used as a tool to test the hypothesis Management from neighboring Croatia. Slovenia that site occupancy by sloth bears thus represents a sink for the Dinaric- (Melursus ursinus) is associated with Session Chair: Pindos brown bear population which species richness of Carnivora in Djuro Huber, Veterinary Faculty of may appear as a problem with the Wasgomuwa National Park (33,765 the University of Zagreb, Croatia recent increase in bear hunting quotas ha) in Sri Lanka. During 2002–2003 Email: [email protected] in Croatia and requires coordinated they detected sloth bears at 39 camera management. sites for a total of 61 of 379 sample On the second day of the Confer- (with two co-authors) nights, as well as 13 of 14 species of ence in Tbilisi, during the whole Ilpo Kojola presented how the bear watching and Carnivora of Sri Lanka’s. The model morning from 09:00 till the lunch photographing is a profitable wildlife suggested that sloth bear occupancy break, the Session on Bear Manage- tourism venture in easternmost Fin- and carnivore species richness were ment was held. The conference room land. Roughly 100-120 brown bears, closely linked. The results support was full with nearly all registered nearly 10% of Finland’s bear popula- the hypothesis that sloth bears may participants. The whole organization tion, visit 94 sites each year where serve as an umbrella species whose was superb, so even the presenters baits in the form of salmon leftovers, habitat conservation would also fitted by giving their maximum and dog food and carcasses of domestic protect a high richness of mammalian complying with the time limits. Eight pigs are offered to bears. The primary carnivores. studies were presented in the session. concern in public debate about feeding Harry Reynolds (with four co-au- Miha Krofel with three co-authors is possibly making bears less wary of thors) presented the latest efforts to from Slovenia referred to the Guide- humans which might increase the risk preserve the Gobi brown bear (Ursus lines for population level management of bear attacks. By monitoring GPS- arctos isabellinus) in the Gobi Desert plans for large carnivores in Europe collared animals it was shown that in Mongolia. After the international (by the Large Carnivore Initiative for the size of the annual home ranges workshop in 2004 the team initiated Europe) in the presentation of the ef- were not linked with the number of the project resulting in capturing

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3  19th IBA Conference and fitting with GPS satellite collars probability of bear occurrence across annual reproductions based on the 10 bears and using camera traps that our study area they used logistic number and location of individual fe- helped to identify at least 18 individual regression within a GIS environment male brown bears detected in Norway bears. Additionally, 13 hair snag sites to compare sites that captured bears during genetic mark-recapture moni- provided over 900 samples for ge- (DNA hair-snagged) against sites that toring. Swedish and Norwegian bears netic analysis. Complex local capacity did not. They captured 188 different are parts of the same population, building is expected to help imple- bears in 452 capture events. The road and home ranges of bears near the ment the strategic plan for recovery of densities and human densities were Norwegian borders do cross borders. Gobi bears which includes exploring the best predictors of bear occurrence The model was designed to reduce potential for enhancing water sources, at fine and large scales. Unreported the likelihood of double-counting increasing presence and availability backcountry bear mortalities may bears and reproductions over multiple of favored bear foods, and livestock be responsible for low bear densities jurisdictions. The model-predicted management to eventually allow oc- due to the strong association with estimates of the number of reproduc- cupation of former Gobi bear range. high road and human densities. The tions in Norway (including their upper Jon Swenson, in 95% CI limits) the invited speech, fell short of their presented how brown target both on bears are coping the country with the human and regional dominated landscape level. Model in Europe. Even sensitivity to large and increasing violating key as- populations of brown sumptions and bears occur in many cross-validation densely populated with a data set European countries. that was not Studies showed that used in model bears learned to avoid parameteriza- humans but in the tion encourage case of encounter confidence in do change their the predictions. behavior for the next Jack Hopkins 12 hours. European with Paul Koch, brown bears also in their complex avoid towns, tourist evaluation of developments, open human-bear habitats, and roads Dave Garshelis tries to recruit a new BSG member interactions both during the active in Yosemite and winter season. Within a home authors believe that their technique National Park (California, USA) range, bears with more human habita- may be applicable for populations of used even stable isotopes. Incidents tion use rugged terrain more, particu- bears around the world where DNA between humans and American black larly during midday, when humans abundance and density surveys are bears (Ursus americanus) occurred for are most active. This will hopefully appropriate not only to for descrip- over hundred years. In 1975, the park help us determine the limits of human tive work (how many bears) but also initiated a Human-Bear Management presence that European brown bears towards explanation (why that many Plan to tackle the issues associated can tolerate. bears). with conflict between humans that Michael Proctor and his six co- Richard Bischof with Jon Swenson included removal of unnatural food authors used multi-scaled ecological attempted to delineate the trans-bor- sources, enforcement of regulations modeling to approach understanding der reproducing brown bear females. regarding food storage and feeding the causes of depressed brown bear Norway’s bear management goal is to animals. Currently, managers report populations in Southern Canada. have 15 reproducing females per year. that bears have less access to human They tested how a suite of habitat, As the number is so low the accurate food compared to bears prior to 1999, terrain, ecological, and human-use estimation is crucial. To accomplish however there is currently no quanti- variables predicted bear densities at this, they developed a simulation fiable measure besides comparing the three spatial scales. To estimate the model to calculate the number of number of annual incident reports to

 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 19th IBA Conference determine program success over time. rent genetic structure of northeastern with female body size, although this In this study, the authors estimated European brown bears using nuclear influence decreased with increasing the contribution of human food in microsatellite markers in her paper age. Factors significantly influencing food-conditioned bear diets over time “Genetic structure of the brown bear cub survival were: male turnover (a to evaluate management success over population in north-eastern europe proxy for sexually selected infanticide, the past 100 years. They used stable based on analysis of microsatel- negative), mother’s body size (posi- isotope analysis to determine the lite data” She reported that genetic tive), population density (negative), isotopic composition of historic and structure is developing in several study area, the interactions of food contemporary bears tissues as well areas, particularly is Estonia. Her conditions in the previous year, spring as their food sources. Hierarchical results suggest recent events may be litter size; population density (with the Bayesian stable isotope mixing models in the process of fragmenting the negative effect of litter size increasing were used to determine the relative Estonian brown bear from the rest with increasing density) and body size. contribution of foods assimilated in of northwest European bears. The Food conditions in the previous year bears’ diets. remaining bears (not in Estonia) had a (positive) and the interaction between As a chair, I can conclude that the slight substructuring. male turnover and population density bear managers recognized and used Finally, John Davison, a post-doc- (the negative effect of male turnover a variety of modern research tools toral researcher at the University of increased with increasing density) ranging from satellite telemetry, Tartu (Estonia) on the phylogeography were also significant. Litter size did GIS, genetics, camera traps and of brown bears presented a stimulat- not influence cub survival. This study stable isotopes, and all processed by ing paper on “Timing estimates documented that female lifetime sophisticated software, to make sound enhance our understanding of brown fitness was influenced by hunting, management decisions and improve bear phylogeography.” Newer calibra- directly by reducing longevity and the overall management. The room for tion techniques suggested the split indirectly by reducing litter survival errors is disappearing and we should of polar bears from brown bears due to sexually selected infanticide. ensure that all bear populations occurred 150,000 to 170,000 years ago Jeff Stetz presented a paper on receive such a treatment and secure and all modern brown bears share a the “Evaluation of bear rub surveys their long-term future. common ancestor 250,000 years ago. to monitor grizzly bear population Further he suggested that divergence trends” co-authored by Kate Kendall Session 5 – Bear Genetics of modern brown bear lineages may and Chris Servheen. This study was have been influenced by past climate an enormous effort to determine Session Chair: change and glacial events associated whether rub tree surveys could yield Michael Proctor with the Pleistocene. reliable estimates of population size, Email: [email protected] trend, and distribution of grizzly Session 6 - Bear Behavior populations. Using encounter data from 379 grizzly bears identified The genetics session had a few and Behavioral Ecology cancellations, but nonetheless had an through bear rub surveys in north- western Montana, USA, they param- interesting set of presentations from Chair: eterized a series of model simulations several Estonian researchers. First Jon Swenson to assess the ability of noninvasive ge- was Marju Korsten, a fourth-year Email: [email protected] PhD student in University of Tartu, netic sampling to estimate population growth rates. Simulations indicated Estonia. Her paper “Brown bear Andreas Zedrosser presented a that ecosystem–wide, annual bear rub phylogeography in northern continen- paper on “Female fitness in relation surveys would exceed 80% power to tal Eurasia: comparative analysis of to sexually selected infanticide in a detect a 3% annual decline within six partial and complete mitochondrial hunted population of brown bears” co- years. Robust design models with two genomes” explored the influence of authored by Fannie Pelletier, Marco simulated surveys per year provided the Pleistocene ice age expansions and Festa-Bianchet and Jon E. Swenson. precise and unbiased annual estimates contractions on north Eurasian brown This was a rare study conducted in of trend, abundance, and apparent bear recolonization. Marju concluded Sweden looking at factors affecting survival, suggesting that systematic, that a demographic expansion oc- the life-time reproductive success of annual bear rub surveys may provide a curred from a single refugia after a female brown bears in two hunted viable complement or alternative to te- severe bottleneck event sometime populations. The number of yearlings lemetry–based methods for monitor- between 22,000 to 17,000 years ago. that females weaned in their lifetime ing trends in grizzly bear populations. Egle Vulla, another fourth-year increased with their longevity (of M. Clapham presented a paper on PhD-student in University of Tartu, course!) and tended to increase Estonia, presented a look at the cur- “Preliminary findings assessing the

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3  19th IBA Conference olfactory communication strategies the bears were in a daybed. None of masting of 11 species of trees. The of brown bears”, co-authored by O. the bears showed aggressive behavior authors found that bears faced a low T. Nevin, F. Rosell, and A. D. Ramsey. and they either left the area before, abundance of fruits (hard mast) in This study discussed an olfactory during, or after they were passed or summer and, in contrast, they foraged communication, as a relatively new just stayed in the daybed. The daybeds on Q. crispula acorns selectively in study area in bears (except the giant were placed in very dense vegetation, autumn. They apparently ate new food panda). The authors items after the abundance found that brown of more preferred items had bears selected the declined. The spatial and two tree species that temporal pattern of masting were least represented affected the distribution of in the landscape for bears in this mountainous marking and showed area. a slight preference K. Kobayash presented a for larger trees. Adult paper on “Brown bear preda- males were signifi- tion on sika deer fawns fol- cantly more likely to lowing its population growth mark than females in eastern Hokkaido, Japan” or subadults, relative co-authored by Y. Sato and to their presence in K. Kaji. This interesting the population. The study documented how authors concluded apparent learning by bears that assessing how has influenced predatory olfactory communica- behavior on sika deer fawns. tion plays a role in the Brown bears apparently social organisation of learned to eat deer during solitary carnivores will the 1990s, when an over- allow us to understand abundant deer population the processes involved was reduced by hunting, and in territoriality, disper- many carcasses were avail- sal and reproduction, able to bears. The bears ate and better interpret more fawns in 2006-2008, the results of DNA when the deer population surveys that use scent was low, than in 1999-2000, lures. when it was much larger. Ole-Gunnar Støen, Thus, predation pressure with Gro Kvelprud Banquet performers checking out the bear people has apparently increased, in Moen, Veronica spite of the decreasing deer Sahlén, and Jon E. Swenson presented where people rarely go. Bears chose population. a paper on “The behavior of Scandi- denser vegetation for daybeds when O. Fröbert with K. Christensen, Å. navian brown bears when meeting closer to human habitation or when Fahlman, S. Brunberg, J. Josefsson, humans.” The brown bear population there were more people in the for- E. Särndahl, J. E. Swenson and J. is increasing in numbers and distribu- est. All our results were consistent M. Arnemo presented on “Platelet tion in Scandinavia, as is the number in showing that bears were trying to function in the Scandinavian brown of people who are injured or killed avoid meeting people. bear compared to man.” This paper by bears. All the 27 people who were Ami Nakajima with Shinsuke demonstrated another connection injured or killed were men and most Koike, Takashi Masaki, Koji Yamazaki, between bears and man. Scandinavian were armed. Most of these cases oc- Chinatsu Kozakai, and Koichi Kaji brown bears hibernate for 5-7 months, curred during the hunting season and presented on “Foraging behavior of but do not develop coagulopathy. most of the armed men had shot at Asiatic black bear in relation with the Because physical inactivity and lying the bear before they were injured. The temporal change of fruit abundance flat on the ground are thrombo- authors approached 42 bears equipped of various species in cool temperate genic in humans and because the with GPS transmitters 261 times at forest, Japan”. This was an ambitious brown bear apparently is free from a distance of 50 m, upwind, while study to explain the feeding behavior thromboembolic events, the authors talking at a normal tone of voice while of Asiatic black bears in relation to the hypothesized that brown bears would

10 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 19th IBA Conference demonstrate reduced platelet activity behavior and monitoring of bear of bears and how many bears could be shortly after leaving the den. This populations (1), and the relationship supported by the habitat. Bejan and is potentially important for human between hibernation physiology and his colleagues found that the size of medicine, because cardiovascular cardiovascular disease in humans habitat suitable for brown bears was disease, including acute myocardial (1). I was happy to observe that these smaller than previously estimated. infarction, is a leading cause of death papers were usually based on hypoth- They suggested that mountain forests in humans globally and platelet inhibi- eses found in the general behavioral should be classified as main brown tion is a cornerstone in the treatment ecology literature, which is a trend bear habitat in Georgia, but that its of cardiovascular disease. The authors that will strengthen bear research and actual suitability was largely depen- found that platelet function was less put the results into a more general dent upon human accessibility. in brown bears than humans, which perspective. From the many good Shinsuke Koike et al. gave a may help explain how bears can den questions, the session was a success. presentation on the relationships without obvious thrombus building. between the behavior of Asiatic black Sam M. J. G. Steyaert with Klaus Session 7 - Bear Movement bears, autumn food habits, and hard Hackländer, Jon E. Swenson, and mast production in Japan. Based on Andreas Zedrosser presented on and Habitat Use GPS locations, they showed that the “Intersexual brown bear associations locomotion of male bears was bigger Session Chair: during the breeding season in central than that of females, however, move- Andreas Zedrosser Sweden.” This was a detailed GPS- ment was over long distances regard- Email: [email protected] based study of the mating behavior less of sex, and occurred more in of brown bears. The authors defined autumn than in summer. Movement This session was very international, an intersexual association as an rates increased especially in autumns with high quality contributions from event with two or more individuals with poor hard mast crops. Asia, Europe and North America, cov- of different sexes at the same loca- Leonardo Bereczky et al. presented ering three bear species, brown bears, tion (within 60 m) simultaneously a comparison of home range size, Asiatic black bears and sun bears. (within 10 min). Associations varied movements, habitat use and activity Bejan Lortkipanidze et al. started in duration between less than 1 day patterns of released orphan brown the session with a presentation about (42.2 %) to 12 days (0.9 %) and were bears and wild captured brown bears the modeling of brown bear habitat recorded between 6 May and 15 July, in the Carpathian Mountains of in Georgia. There is considerable with a peak during the first week of Romania. Leonardo and his colleagues debate in Georgia about the number June. Half of the male-female combi- are using a “soft release” technique nations were repeated more than once during a breeding season; one pair was associated 11 times, totaling 26 days, in one breeding season. During a breeding season males were with 0-8 marked females, and females with 1-4 marked males and both sexes showed roam-to-mate behavior. Almost all of the marked bears in an approxi- mately 13,000 km² area were somehow interconnected within one network of “social relations.” The authors found that the mating system of the brown bear is complex, and consists of vari- ous strategies. It is difficult to summarize these eight papers. All but one were about brown bears, the exception being Asiatic black bear, and they focussed on the relationships between indi- vidual bears (2), between bears and people, including hunting (2), foraging behavior (2), the relationship between Georgian boys who performed at the banquet

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 11 19th IBA Conference (i.e. large enclosures, minimal human the amount of mesic habitat, land ogy of 11 different bears (10 adult contact, etc.) to reintroduce orphaned management practices, and historical males and 1 adult female) grizzly bear cubs from a rehabilitation center presence of bears. Female abundance bears in northeastern Alaska with the into the wild. A comparison of the was also influenced by the amount of use of GPS-collars. The mean rate of ecological and behavior characteristics meadow and shrub habitat, while male movement for all bears was 0.44 km of released bears and wild captured abundance was also influenced by the per hour. Adult male bears entered revealed no significant differences number of deer and elk hunters in an dens on average on 12 October and between the groups. Home range area. emerged on average on 25 April. Male sizes were similar of released and wild Robert Steinmetz et al. gave a bears were in winter dens for an aver- bears and the activity patterns of both presentation on the shared preference age of 195 days, indicating that arctic groups were more nocturnal when the niche of sympatric Asiatic black bears grizzly bears spend half of their lives animals were close to settlement and and sun bears in a tropical forest mo- in dormancy. more diurnal in The audience was able to take home remote areas. three major messages from Session 7: Isao Arimoto 1) the importance of the “new technol- et al. talked ogy” of GPS-collars as well as new about autumn statistical approaches for habitat and food habits and movement studies, 2) which factors movements of influence individual movement rates, Asiatic black and 3) how the habitat use of bears is bears in Japan in driven by food habits as well as food relation to hard abundance, but also how it is shaped mast production. by interspecific competition and hu- The food habits man influence. of individual bears were evalu- Workshop on Captive ated with feces found at GPS Bear Issues and their locations. The Management: the bear results suggested sanctuaries that food habits and movements Ðuro Huber José Kok, Koen Cuyten and Agnieszka correlate with Sergiel annually changes in the hard mast saic in western Thailand. The research production. When both of beechnut goal was to evaluate overlap in habitat The objective of this workshop was and Mongolian oak acorn were use and spatial co-occurrence of the to discuss issues related to sanctuaries abundant, all bears fed on beechnut two bear species, and thereby assess and other bear holding institutions for selectively. Isao and his coauthors ob- evidence for the mechanism of their mistreated or orphaned individuals. served a large variation in individual coexistence. Rob and his colleagues The purpose was to share experiences food habits and concluded that the found that fruiting tree density was and provide a forum to foster infor- autumn food habits and home range the best predictor of occurrence for mation exchange that is critical to elevation of bears were influenced not both species. The co-occurrence at building a network of professionals to only by hard mast production, but also both coarse and fine spatial scales and address captive bear issues and their by regional or individual variation. use of the same resources (fruit trees) welfare. Tabitha Graves et al. presented how indicated common niche preferences. In Session I, seven speakers pre- landscape characteristics (habitat and However, the habitat use of the species sented issues related to aspects of bear human) influence local grizzly bear differed in ways expected from their sanctuary management and welfare. abundance in northwestern Montana physical differences: larger black bears The first speaker, Leonardo Bereczky using a hierarchical Bayesian model. dominated in the most fruit-rich, (Association for Conserving Natural Over 1500 genetic samples of 545 higher elevation habitat, and smaller Values), presented “Reasons why bears grizzly bears were formatted as a sun bears took advantage of less-pre- arrive in captivity - the European spatial mark-recapture data set to ferred insects. experience” The Orphan Bear Reha- estimate local bear abundance. Local Patricia Reynolds et al. gave the bilitation Centre, accepted 40 bears male and female bear abundance at final presentation of the session on for a rehabilitation and reintroduc- the 49 km² scale was influenced by movement rates and denning chronol- tion project beginning in 2003. The

12 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 19th IBA Conference bear restoration effort was designed programs. In conclusion, the speaker Marion Schneider (Zoo Koeln) to return bears to the Romanian stated that, by bringing together stake- gave a presentation on “Integrating Carpathian mountain range. Accord- holders through a progressive and behavioural aspects into planning ing to the results of the assessment, holistic approach, the Animals Asia and running bear sanctuaries”. The there are three main reasons why the Foundation aims to provide multiple speaker emphasized how essential cubs became orphaned: (1) Winter solutions to the problems generated it is to keep animals in large, natu- den disturbance caused by timber by the bear bile trade, in a long-term ralistic, well structured enclosures exploitation, tourism, and hunting effort to ultimately end this trade, and that provide sufficient stimuli to (2) Accidental separations between the significant threat it poses to bear allow for the maintenance of critical cub and sow due to weather or other populations around the world.” inter-individual distances regardless disturbing factors and (3) Death of the Lazaros Georgiadis (ARCTUROS) of dominance hierarchy. The ability sow (Accidental killing by hunters or presented “Bear Sanctuaries, their to stimulate a wide variety of species- poaching). The Romanian experience standards and their contribution specific behaviours was also deemed can be projected on to important. According to situations of other Euro- inter-specific differences, pean countries hosting enclosure design and daily bear populations. management strategies should Considering the annual meet the biological needs of number of orphan cubs, the respective species. the speaker emphasized Jan Schmidt-Burbach that the sustaining (World Society for the Protec- professional rehabilita- tion of Animals) presented on tion centers provides an “General veterinary pro- effective solution for the cedures for bear sanctuary existing orphan cubs. settings.” The speaker pointed It doesn’t prevent the out two diagnostic proce- animals from becoming dures that are recommended orphaned. for sanctuary settings: (1) Heather Bacon (Ani- Necropsy procedures, which mals Asia Foundation) simultaneously allow for the presented “The Trade in practice of surgical proce- Kazbegi Field trip Bear Bile - A One-health dures and/or familiarize the Approach.” Animals vet staff with bear anatomy Asia offers a comprehensive veterinary to the bear conservation: The case and (2) Diagnostic cytology which medical program (including expertise of ARCTUROS Bear Sanctuary in allow many pathologic situations in surgical and pathological services). Greece.” There is a need for clear (relatively easy to diagnose) to be The facility has catalogued hundreds definition of what a sanctuary is recognized at an early stage, (e.g., of pathological case studies of bears and what standards need to be met bacterial and mycotic infiltrations, subjected to the invasive bile extrac- to care for bears in a sanctuary. He necrosis, and inflammation, etc.) As tion process that provides bile for the outlined three strategic questions: (1) a main conclusion, there is a need traditional Chinese medicinal market. What does one do with a wild animal for detailed guidelines for the most From the trauma inflicted, histopa- in need of sanctuary (e.g., bear)? (2) common procedures and references thology, cytology and gross pathologi- What guidelines should we follow on diseases should be made available cal examination was documented and to care for a bear for the duration of to the resident veterinary staff. recorded via catalogue through an its life? And (3) How do captive bear Irakli Kutsia (NACRES) presented assessment protocol developed in bear facilities contribute to bear conserva- on “Welfare problems of captive bears rescue centers in Vietnam and China. tion in the wild? in Georgia.” Since the 1990s captive These centers provide a lifetime of According to ARCTUROS, the con- bears were displayed at restaurants care for over 300 bears. Individual tribution of Bear Sanctuaries to bear and petrol stations to attract visitors animals range from physically and conservation can be achieved through or were kept as pets. They are often mentally ‘damaged’ animals to bears (1) public awareness campaigns and not properly cared for, do not get that were considered candidates for special environmental education appropriate nutrition and often do not rehabilitation (reintroduction) into projects, (2) participating in special have access to drinking water. Owners the wild. Rehabilitated animals are wildlife conservation projects and (3) do not observe even the most basic selected as ambassadors for education contribution to scientific research. safety rules. Since 1995 NACRES has

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 13 19th IBA Conference been working on the problem of these sun bears in Indonesia is virtually two sections by means of sliding gates. captive bears situations. A compre- lacking, a first of its kind environmen- The third section is the quarantine hensive database was designed to tal education center, with a strong area where bears can recuperate include all detailed information about focus on sun bears in East Kalimantan after arrival, have examinations done the bears, their condition, owner (Indonesian Borneo) was developed. by the zoo’s veterinarian. Alertis information, cage sizes, etc. There is a The sun bear became the mascot of has developed a special diet which need for a bear sanctuary in Georgia. the local Balikpapan district in 2002. stimulates the natural (foraging) This should go along with actions In 2006, a 1.3 ha forest enclosure behavior of bears. By means of its from the government to improve the was built for five confiscated ex-cap- website www.largebearenclosures. control on illegal capture and trade of tive (pet) sun bears with an adjacent com. Alertis wants to share knowledge bears. education exhibit was finalized in and information to improve Agnieszka management and Sergiel (Univer- welfare of captive sity of Wroclaw) bears. An online presented on “Cap- database of individual tive bears welfare cases of bears in peril monitoring - will be created next Poland 2007-2009.” to this. The main objec- The workshop tive of this project concluded with a was to assess the discussion on the welfare of bears concept of a bear net- and their housing work for information conditions. The exchange, including study evaluated list of sanctuaries to if the biological be updated, relevant needs of the bears websites, NGO’s were fulfilled and working on the issue, examined the Georgian conference staff at closing contact details of type and intensity all involved parties, of aberrant behaviors. A detailed 2009. Some 50,000 local people visited etc. This workshop was the first step catalogue describing age, sex, origin, the education center in 2009. The towards creating such a cooperative physical and psychological condition center is being developed by a com- network of captive bear experts. was compiled. The primary welfare bination of small foreign grants and The captive bear news corre- problems of the 52 bears living in collaboration with local government spondent, Jordan Schaul, could not captivity in Poland were specified. The which covers much of the ongoing attend the workshop, but suggested project findings will serve to improve operational costs. The next challenges that information be sent to him to the welfare of bears and to initiate will be to evaluate the effectiveness of upload to the Bear Keepers’ Forum legislative change to improve the cap- the education programs and whether (http://bearkeepers.wordpress.com), tive lives of bears. changes in attitudes towards conser- a website dedicated to sanctuaries, In Session II, two presentations vation and more importantly, changes rehabilitation facilities, zoos and other were given on examples of existing in practices are being achieved. bear holding institutions. The new large bear enclosures or sanctuaries The concept of “large bear site is under construction and was for different bear species. A presenta- enclosure for brown bears” was formerly hosted under the domain tion on “A sun bear sanctuary in presented by Koen Cuyten (Alertis www.bearkeepers.net. A passcode Indonesia,” by Gabriella Fredriksson – Fund for Bear and Nature protected directory is available on the (Environmental Education and Conservation). The Bear Forest new site, as is a link to a mailing list Recreation Center), provided an excel- in Rhenen, the Netherlands is a that has been managed for seven years lent example of education programs large bear enclosure for mistreated (catering to clinicians, pathologists, and their benefit to conservation dancing, circus and film bears. Raising keepers, and managers). Please send education initiatives. Indonesia covers awareness and education are the most your contact information and website some 45% of the sun bears’ geographic important aims, next to fundraising. It links to [email protected]. range. Unabated forest loss and poach- is a semi-natural 20,000 square meter ing seriously threaten this species. As enclosure, located in a natural forested general knowledge and concern about area. The enclosure is divisible into All photos by John Hechtel.

14 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bear Specialist Group Equally notable is the astoundingly which give a sense for the status of Status and poor quality of information that exists bears across this broad region. Fol- Conservation of for bears in Asia. Several expert teams lowing these are two longer reports lack any representatives from some (not from the Tbilisi meeting) about Eurasian Bears range countries, and among the exist- some important conservation en- ing membership of country “experts,” deavors also occurring in Asia, which Dave Garshelis knowledge about the status of bears we think demonstrate why there is Co-chair Bear Specialist Group and threats against them is (to put it justification for hope in turning the Minnesota Department of Natural mildly) wanting. To a large extent this tide on these bears. Resources is due to inadequate funding, man- Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA power, infrastructure, and training, European Brown Bear Email: [email protected] but is also due to conflicting priorities among the many species that vie for Expert Team (EBBET) Bruce McLellan conservation attention. Report Co-chair Bear Specialist Group With this poor state of knowledge, Presenters: Djuro Huber and Jon British Columbia Ministry of Forests how sure are we that Asian bears are Swenson Darcy, BC V0N 3K0, Canada really faring poorly, despite increas- Email: [email protected] ingly stricter laws and establishment European brown bears range of more protected areas? Can we across 28 countries, 26 of which are The IBA conference held in Tbilisi, really tell what is happening when represented on the EBBET (Belarus Georgia, a site at the crossroads of all we have are crude statistics on and Ukraine are missing). These bears Europe and Asia, provided an op- forest cover and sporadic records of occur in nine discrete populations: portunity for the BSG to discuss confiscated bear parts? Might we be Scandinavia (3,300 bears), North- and present updated information on fooled into thinking that the situation eastern Europe (38,000), Carpathian status, threats, and conservation of is gloomier than it really is? Unfor- Mountains (8,100), Dinara -Pindos Eurasian bears. BSG members held tunately, we don’t think that’s the (2,800), Alps (35-40), Appennini separate small meetings on sloth case, based on data available for some Mountains (40-50), Balkan (720), bears and Asiatic black bears, as well selected areas. Cantabrian Mountains (60-90) as a plenary session on the status and Below are brief abstracts from the and Pyrenees (15-17). The largest conservation of all the terrestrial (ex- reports presented in this session, populations are found in northern cludes polar bear) Eurasian bears (five species). This session was composed of a series of reports from relevant Expert Teams, dealing with changes in distribution, trends in abundance, main limiting factors, conservation programs, research programs, accom- plishments or goals of their team, and proposed future efforts. Inter-mixed with these reports were related special reports on bear distribution, threats, and conservation challenges and initiatives in Eurasia. A few common threads emerged from this series of reports. Notably, conservation successes are most apparent in Europe, with just a few bright spots in Asia (e.g., Japan). In southern Asia, bears are continuing to lose ground, both figuratively and literally. The ironic exception appears to be the giant panda, which being the only officially endangered bear, also

seems to be the only one in Asia where © Agnieszka Sergiel the overall range area is expanding. Recently orphaned brown bear cub in Croatia

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 15 Bear Specialist Group and southeastern Europe whereas In the framework of this new plan, we regions. Conservation priority should the populations in south-western will focus on transborder monitoring be given to saving bears in each of Europe are small and endangered and on an awareness campaign for the eco-regions that they historically (Austria, Pyrenees in France, Abruzzo hunters. occupied and to maintain functional and Trentino-Alto Adige in Italy and ecosystems. Cantabria in Spain). Population sizes Past and Present and trends are estimated in various North Asian Brown Bear ways including: DNA extracted from Distribution of the Black scat collections, counts of females and Brown Bears of Asia Expert Team (NABBET) with cubs, counts at feeding stations, Presenter: Dave Garshelis Report opportunistic observations by hunters Presenters: Tsutomu Mano and Larry or by expert opinion. Conflicts that In October 2006, bear experts Van Daele lead to threats include: sheep depreda- from Asia gathered in Japan to map tions in Norway and France; problem the distribution of four Asian bears: NABBET members are from six bears in Slovakia, Croatia, and Poland; brown bears, Asiatic black bears, sun countries, four in Asia (China, Japan, illegal killing in Austria, Spain and bears, and sloth bears. Participants Mongolia, and Russia) and two in France. Bears are threatened by mapped point locations, definite range North America (Canada and United isolation (but not conflict) in Abruzzo, (polygons extending from points), States). There are no representatives Latvia and Cantabria. Future efforts probable range (acceptable habitat but from two range countries, Kazakhstan should include finding and “building” no definitive evidence of presence), and North Korea. There have been no experts in some countries, as well as and extirpated range (absence within notable changes in the distribution obtaining international projects on historic range); areas not so designated of brown bears in Asia. No reliable the level of bear populations. were categorized as uncertain. Brown population trend information exists in bears presently occur in 19-21 Asian the entire region as population trend countries; occupancy is uncertain in monitoring is generally lacking. While Status and Conservation Iraq and Bhutan. The most recent the brown bear is a game species in Ja- of Brown Bears in the known whole country extirpation was pan and Russia, hunting is prohibited Pyrenees Syria (last documented there in 1955). in China and Mongolia. Poaching for Presenter: Pierre-Yves Quenette Asiatic black bears occur in 18 coun- bear parts is a common issue in the tries, with no country extirpations, continental countries. Depredation The brown bear population in but 10 countries with >75% of the kills of nuisance bears are increasing the Pyrenees is one of the smallest historic range extirpated. Sun bears and are the principle issue in Japan. in Europe (and the only remaining occur in 9-11 countries; occupancy is Many of the ET members are active population in France). Nearly extir- uncertain in China and Bangladesh. participants of the Northern Forum pated, with only 5-6 individuals left in Sloth bears occur in India, Nepal, Brown Bear Working Group and 1995, the population was augmented and Sri Lanka; are probable in Bhutan we try to improve communications in 1996-1997 and 2006 with three and (although documentation is lack- among researchers and managers five bears, respectively, from Slovenia. ing) and likely recently extirpated in in various regions of Northern Asia A minimum of 17 individuals were Bangladesh. A large share of the range through Northern Forum activities detected in 2009. Special challenges of each of these species occurs in a (see more detailed report below). are posed by the fact that this is a single country: Russia = 66% of brown transborder population, covering 5000 bear range; China = 50-59% black South Asian Brown Bear km² in France, Spain and Andorra. bear range; Indonesia = 45% sun bear Monitoring is based on systematic range; India = 97% sloth bear range. Expert Team (SABBET) hair trapping and trail surveys as well Protected areas (PAs; IUCN categories Report as opportunistic bear sightings and I-VI) comprise 13-14% of brown and Presenters: O. E. Can and S. records of sign. The main limiting Asiatic black bear range, and 25% of Sathyakumar factors are human-caused mortalities sun bear range. Digitized PAs for India (e.g., hunting accidents, car collisions), were not available, so the protected The SABBET has 13 members conflicts with livestock breeders, and area of sloth bear range is not known. representing 11 countries in South the innate characteristics of a small, Asian bears occupy 49 priority eco- Asia (China, Georgia, India, Iran, Kyr- fragmented population with a skewed regions: brown bears = 29, black bears gyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, sex ratio. A new conservation plan for = 29, sun bears = 17, sloth bears = 12. Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbeki- the period 2010-2014 must be present- Each of the latter three species has stan). There have been minor changes ed by the French Ministry of Ecology. been nearly extirpated from two eco- in the distribution of brown bear in

16 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bear Specialist Group © Anwarul Islam Village interviews and awareness campaign about three species of bears in Bangladesh. Sloth and sun bears may already be extirpated.

the region. No information exists on Asiatic Black Bear Expert employed. The newest initiative is a population trends and no systematic bear monitoring network to combine monitoring occurs. Main threats are: Team (ABBET) Report the efforts of field projects on a variety Presenter: Dave Garshelis poaching for bear parts, retaliatory of species to gather information on killings to reduce crop and livestock population status of bears. Asiatic black bears range across depredation, infrastructure develop- 18 countries, 16 of which are repre- ment, activities of military and border sented on the ABBET (Nepal and N. Dachigam National Park, security agencies, and ecotourism. Korea are missing). Recent known Recent conservation initiatives Kashmir, India: why are changes in distribution include range include: landscape level planning and black bears so abundant? expansion in Japan and decline in management in the Indian Himalaya, Presenter: S.Sathyakumar Vietnam. Largest numbers of Asiatic development of a community-based Black Bears occur in China and Japan. brown bear action plan for Nepal, Dachigam National Park (141 Main human-caused mortalities are and 1st national workshop on brown km²) and adjoining forested areas, from poaching for parts and retalia- bear–human interactions in Turkey. located near Srinagar in the Zabarwan tory killing for damage to crops. The team is searching for represen- hills of Zanskar mountain range in Additionally, extensive habitat loss is tatives for Afghanistan, Armenia, the Kashmir Himalaya, encompass occurring in several SE Asian coun- Azerbaijan, Bhutan and Iraq. SABBET one of the best habitats for Asiatic tries. Conservation efforts include strives to improve communica- black bears in India. In the fall, large awareness campaigns, establishing tions among members and promote numbers of bears congregate (and more PAs, increased anti-poaching regional cooperation for brown bear are easily observed) in a plantation of patrols, and population augmentation. research and conservation. English oak (Quercus robur), which Camera trapping and radiotelemetry was planted along with other bear are the main research methods being foods by Maharaja Hari Singh during

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 17 Bear Specialist Group his rule (1925-1947). The conserva- conservation awareness programs are Laos. Bear farms have been stocked tion-minded Maharaja also relocated being carried out in Bangladesh and with cubs taken from the wild. 10 villages in order to protect the India. Research projects on the status Orphaned cubs also become part of Dachigam catchment area. The or ecology of sun bears are ongoing in the pet trade. Other bears are brought forested habitats of Dachigam NP now northeast India, Lao PDR, Thailand, to restaurants to supply meat and bear provide a variety of bear food resourc- Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. paw soup for wealthy consumers. A es, which along with orchards and There is a need to build capacity in number of NGOs have been working croplands in the vicinity have led to the region in bear sign survey meth- in Southeast Asia to assist govern- high bear numbers and consequently ods, which offer a realistic way to ments in eradicating the trade in bear human-bear conflicts. The Wildlife monitor and evaluate the status of sun parts and bear farming. The task is so Institute of India initiated investiga- bear populations. enormous that collaboration among tions of bear ecology and human-bear NGOs is paramount. Sanctuaries interactions in 2007 using a variety Sun Bear Conservation have been established in a number of conventional and modern field of Southeast Asian countries where methods: sign surveys along transects Issues in Indonesia government-confiscated bears (mainly Presenter: Gabriella Fredriksson and trails, camera trapping, hair snare Asiatic black bears, but also sun bears stations, and GPS satellite telemetry and brown bears) can be housed and Indonesia makes up 45% of the are all being employed. Surveys of rehabilitated. With hundreds of bears overall sun bear distribution, with human-bear interactions have been now in sanctuaries in Southeast Asia, bears occurring throughout the completed and provided to the park the commitment to provide lifetime islands of Sumatra and Borneo management for use in adaptive care for them is monumental. Howev- (Kalimantan: Indonesian Borneo). management. This project is expected er, these rescued bears also can serve Sun bears are present in all forest to produce interesting insights into as ambassadors for conservation in types, from peat swamps to lower bear ecology and human-bear interac- the region by providing research and montane areas with records up to tions in an area with exceptionally educational opportunities. Free the 2300 m elevation. Sun bears are forest high bear density. Bears is considering ways of releasing dependent; the biggest threats in some young confiscated bears back Indonesia are habitat loss followed by into the wild. Sun Bear Expert Team hunting pressure. Forest loss is mainly (SBET) Report caused by plantation development Presenters: Gabriella Fredriksson and (oil palm), forest fires, unsustainable Sloth Bear Expert Team Robert Steinmetz logging practices and an astounding (SLBET) Report over-capacity of the wood processing Presenter: Harendra Singh Bargali Sun bear occurrence has been industries. Hunting of sun bears in confirmed in nine countries, eight of Indonesia appears on the increase, and The sloth bear, endemic to the which are represented on the SBET this, combined with unabated forest Indian subcontinent, is still widely (Brunei is missing). The presence of loss and lack of law enforcement, distributed in India, but faces severe sun bears in Bangladesh and China bodes poorly for sun bear conserva- threats from continued deforestation, (Yunnan Province) is uncertain. tion in the country. The main efforts isolation of habitats, and poaching. Populations are decreasing in at least needed to increase sun bear conserva- Retribution against bears involved six range countries, based on habitat tion are extension of the protected in conflicts with people (crop-raid- loss trends and evidence of increased area network (and management of ing, attacks) is another serious issue. poaching. Commercial poaching these) and enforcement of existing The species is believed to have been for bears is rampant, particularly in wildlife and conservation legislation. recently extirpated in Bangladesh, mainland SE Asia. Recent reports and its presence in Bhutan remains suggest sun bear bile is increasing in Confronting the Trade in undocumented. In Nepal, populations value relative to black bear, portending are fragmented and likely diminishing increased stimuli to hunt sun bears. Bear Parts and Bear Farms outside of Royal Chitwan National Habitat loss, mainly for expansion of of Southeast Asia Park (which remains a stronghold). commercial agriculture, is continuing Presenter: Matt Hunt In Sri Lanka vast areas of forests have throughout the range, particularly been cleared to accommodate refu- in Indonesia and Malaysia. Two sun The trade in bear parts remains gees. The SLBET is seeking represen- bear conservation/education centers rampant in Southeast Asia. This mar- tation from Nepal and Bhutan in order have been developed in Malaysia ket stimulated the farming of bears for to gain more information about the and Indonesia, and additional bear bile, initially in Korea and China, then status of sloth bears there. Protec- spreading to Vietnam and recently to

18 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bear Specialist Group (using GPS-collared pandas) inves- tigating chemical communication, dispersal, spatial ecology, foraging, denning, mating, human impacts and molecular ecology. Another study, conducted through a collaborative effort by Peking University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, is utilizing camera traps to investigate corridor use by pandas. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of the massive earthquake of 2008. As yet, they have found no serious impacts on wild panda populations although some large areas of habitat were dam- aged. Panda reserves have initiated a systematic monitoring program for pandas, forests, and biodiversity. Range-wide panda population esti- mates have been conducted at about © Dajun Wang. 10-year intervals: the 4th national Giant pandas photographed with a trip-camera at a waterhole in Changqing Reserve, Shaanxi Province survey is planned for 2011. tion of habitats outside the Protected (WTI) staff over eight weeks across 13 Captive Bear Expert Team Area network is a prime conservation states, provided evidence of 28 bears/ (CBET) Report objective. Considering sloth bear handlers remaining in eight states. Presenters: José Kok and Lydia Kolter conservation at the level provided to Dancing bears no longer occur in tigers (before they diminish to the dire urban and accessible rural areas, but The CBET currently has informa- state of tigers) is needed to ensure the still exist in some hard-to-reach areas tion on approximately 560 bear-keep- continued viability of this species. of India and bordering areas of Nepal. ing facilities in Eurasia: 70% are zoos, Through the provision of lifetime 7% rehab centres; farms, circuses, Status of Indian Dancing care to ex-dancing bears, alternative hotel and road zoos make up the livelihoods to Kalandars, enforcement remaining 23%. However, the propor- Bears and public awareness related activities Presenter: Neil D’Cruz tion in the latter category might be it will be possible to end the tradition severely underestimated. Data from of dancing bears in India. Kalandars have performed with the Near East and several countries of dancing sloth bears since medieval Southeast Asia are lacking or at least times. Cubs taken from wild popula- Giant Panda Research and incomplete. In most of Europe and in tions to fuel this practice create a Conservation in China India, with strong zoo associations/ constant drain on bear numbers. The Presenter: Dajun Wang zoo authorities, husbandry guidelines, tradition also raises serious welfare education, management and collec- issues. The Wildlife Protection Act Giant panda populations and their tion plans are available; these are of 1972 and a ban on street perfor- habitat are protected by a system prerequisites for using captive bears in mances using bears (1998) made this of 64 nature reserves; 40% of panda conservation education and conserva- practice illegal in India, but poor habitat is covered by this system. tion research. The development of enforcement and a lack of acceptable Panda habitat has also improved as collection plans in other regions is alternatives allowed it to continue. a consequence of a logging ban and considered a high priority for our Over several years of effort by a reforestation effort, but remains team. Efforts will be increased to number of NGOs, dancing bears have fragmented in 23 disjunct patches. A recruit more members from Southeast been confiscated and brought into number of field studies are ongoing. Asian countries to close these gaps. sanctuaries, and Kalandars trained in The Chinese Academy of Sciences A workshop of the CBET is planned alternative trades. A recent survey, and San Diego Zoo are collaborating to discuss how to better use captive coordinated by Wildlife Trust of India on a study in Foping Nature Reserve bears to enhance bear conservation activities in the wild.

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 19 Bear Specialist Group 3. To draw attention to the way in Unlike former years when EAZA European Carnivore which our life styles and activities en- office supplied all participants that Campaign: raising danger the future of many of our rare registered for the campaign with and endangered carnivore species; information on paper, the informa- awareness and 4. To explain why the presence of tion this time was provided through funding for bear carnivores is a good indicator of the a specially designed website: www. health of our environment; carnivorecampaign.eu. On the site, conservation 5. To demonstrate to EAZA mem- visitors can find detailed informa- bers and the public that conservation tion about the various carnivores José Kok is needed at home, not just in the far and conservation projects that are Member: Captive Bear Expert Team flung corners of the earth; supported by the campaign, as well Ouwehand Zoo and 6. To raise money in support of as wallpapers, a rap, ring tones, Alertis, fund for bear and nature specific projects that facilitate ‘living fundraising ideas, videos and of conservation together’ course a quiz. Björn the brown bear Rhenen, the Netherlands 7. To stop the use of poisoned baits acts as guide through the kids’ corner. Email: [email protected] to control carnivores; On average, there are about 1700 visits 8. To raise money in support of (both participants and other visitors) Since 2000, the European Associa- specific projects that monitor the to the website per month. tion for Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) use or mitigate the effects of poison In order to bring the campaign even has organised annual conservation affecting European carnivores. more under the attention of the broad- campaigns to raise public awareness er public, zoos that participated in the The campaign started by focussing for conservation, increase the coop- campaign organised several events, on 12 flagship species referred to as eration between EAZA and conserva- one of them being a “Teddy Bear the “Dirty Dozen”: European mink, tion organisations, and support in situ Picnic,” which was held on 21 June marbled polecat, wolverine, European projects. A number of conservation 2009. Although this was mainly an otter, European lynx, Iberian lynx, organisations received funding awareness creating event, it also European wild cat, grey wolf, Arctic through money raised during these acted as a fundraiser. Kids and their fox, golden jackal, polar bear, and campaigns. families were invited to the zoos with brown bear. In the second year four In September 2008, the EAZA their teddy bear and participated in a more species, “The Fantastic Four,” launched the European Carnivore large group picnic. A total of 24,621 were added to the list: Imperial eagle, Campaign. The theme of the first year teddy bears were counted among the Egyptian vulture, European black (2008-2009) was “Living together,” 34 zoos that simultaneously held this vulture and harbour porpoise. that of the second year (2009-2010) event. Standing before exhibits on the “Poison.” This campaign has been ad- dressing problems arising from both an increase and decrease in numbers of various European carnivores. On the one hand, actions are needed to improve the survival of threatened and endangered species; on the other, it means learning to live with species that are expanding their ranges and causing conflicts with human inter- ests. Strategies are needed to secure the survival of carnivore species in co-existence with humans. The following aims are addressed by the campaign: 1. To make people conscious of the diversity of wildlife that still survives in their own country; 2. To raise public awareness of the expansion in both numbers and range of several large carnivore species; Teddy bear picnic in Zoo Mulhouse (France)

20 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bear Specialist Group ing. Also, the number of several acts (Biodiversity Conserva- bears captured and kept tion Act, Hunting Act and Bern as pets has been on the Convention). This project aims to: rise (see IBN 19(2):7). (1) increase tolerance of local people This project aims to toward predators; (2) reduce livestock reduce human-bear damages without killing predators; (3) conflicts: (1) by using reduce the use of poisoned baits; and electric fencing, and (4) ensure proper collection of samples (2) by increasing bear for legal persecution when poisoning food availability outside incidents occur. cultivated land by 3. Preventive measures to reduce creating plantations of conflicts and enhance bear conserva- experimental crops and tion in Slovakia. native wild fruit trees. Increasing human-bear conflicts 2. Reduction of in Slovakia have led hunting groups poisoning of wolves and to call for a substantial reduction in bears that depredate bear numbers; meanwhile, others have livestock in Bulgaria. sought non-lethal means of reducing Farmers in Bulgaria these conflicts and ensuring the con- are often unable to de- servation of bears. Waste management fend their cattle against is a big issue. Special bear-proof waste attacks by wolves and bins have been developed and tested bears, and authorities with zoo animals. In the coming Footprint sweets for sale in Aalborg Zoo (Denmark). provide little help in years more bins will be produced and this regard. As a result, distributed over the country. Other featured carnivores, kids and their local people attempt to kill the offend- preventive measures such as electric parents participated in various games, ing predators with poison baits, even fences and deterrent sprays will also storytelling, guided tours, puzzles, though this is a strong offence against be promoted. quizzes etc. They were asked ques- tions like: “What carnivores live in your area? Why is it important that carnivores survive? What would you do if you met a carnivore?” This year participating zoos will hold another awareness-creating event called the “Carnivorous Carnival” (late June), which will also bring a lot of media attention to European carnivores. So far, nearly €250,000 has been received in the campaign account. This money will be used to sup- port, among others, three projects targeted at brown bears: 1. Techniques for reducing conflicts between humans and brown bears in Albania. In Albania, brown bears cause damage to crops, fruit trees, vegeta- ble gardens, beehives and, to a lesser extent, livestock. Currently there is no compensation system for these economic losses. Bear hunting and shooting is forbidden by law, but il- legal killing of bears has been increas- Information panel in Zoo Decin (Czech Republic).

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 21 Bear Specialist Group International Team Cooperates on Kodiak Bear Research Matthew Van Daele Graduate Intern, Kodiak, Alaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game 211 Mission Road Kodiak AK 99615, USA Email: [email protected]

Larry Van Daele Co- chair North Asian Brown Bear Expert Team Area Wildlife Biologist, Kodiak, Alaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game 211 Mission Road Kodiak AK 99615, USA © Alaska Department Fish of and Game (ADF&G) Russian bear biologists assist with bear capture operation at Karluk Lake, Kodiak, Alaska, Email: [email protected] USA. Left to right: Sophia Kholomogorova, Egor Nikolaev, Egor Kirillin, Bill Leacock, and Larry Van Daele. In late May 2010, two biolo- gists from eastern Siberia and their to the Arctic Ocean. The region is associated with building in remote translator traveled to Kodiak Island, characterized by extensive expanses areas underlain with permafrost. Alaska, to spend three weeks assisting of tundra, taiga, and mountain ranges. Extensive tracts of pristine habitat Alaska Department of Fish and Game Yakutia is bisected by the Lena River, support healthy populations of large (ADF&G) and United States Fish and one of the ten longest rivers in the mammals including stone sheep, Wildlife (USFWS) biologists with aeri- world (4,500 km). The arctic/sub- moose, elk, deer and brown bear. In al surveys and a subsequent capture arctic continental climate is char- Yakutia, bears occur in low densities operation of Kodiak bears in south- acteristically dry with hot summers in most habitats south of the Arctic western Kodiak Island, Alaska. Egor and extremely cold winters, and the Circle. There are an estimated 14,000 Nikolaev, the deputy head of Sakha’s coldest temperature recorded in the bears in the Republic, yielding an aver- hunting management department and Northern Hemisphere occurred in age density of less than 5 bears/1000 Egor Kirillin, a predator research bi- Oymakon, Yakutia (-71.2°C; -96°F). km². Brown bears are culturally ologist with the Institute for Biological Yakutia is the largest republic important to indigenous groups of the Problems of Cryolithozone, Russian in Russia and the largest sub-na- region, and many people respect bears Academy of Sciences, along with tional political unit in the world (over greatly. Rarely do they refer to bears translator Sophia Kholomogorova 3,000,000 km²), yet it is home to less (known as “ehe”) directly, and before were invited to Kodiak by the co- than a million people, about half of going on a bear hunt, the hunters investigators on the project, ADF&G which are indigenous Sakha, Even, carefully prepare and offer sacrifices wildlife biologist Larry Van Daele and and Evenk. Hunting, fishing, and to Baianai, the god of the hunt. Im- USFWS researcher Bill Leacock. All reindeer herding were traditionally mediately after a successful hunt, bear are members of the Northern Forum the mainstay of the local economy, heads are left in trees and bear meat Brown Bear Workgroup, and the however recent developments include and fat are respectfully distributed project was funded by the Institute for mining for diamonds, gold, coal, and and consumed. Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, other valuable minerals, as well as In Yakutia, legal hunting is not Russian Academy of Sciences, rich deposits of oil and gas. Though a major source of bear mortality. ADF&G, USFWS, and the Kodiak these endeavors now provide most of Although the hunting department has Brown Bear Trust. the income from the region, overland a harvest quota of up to 700 bears per The Sakha Republic, also known transportation infrastructure is year, less than 25 permits are typically as Yakutia, is a vast region of central extremely limited due to challenges issued annually. However, bear man- Siberia that stretches from Lake Baikal

22 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bear Specialist Group ADF&G and USFWS have been intensively managing brown bears on Kodiak since the 1970s, with on-go- ing hunting, viewing, and research programs. During the past decade, these programs have been conducted in conjunction with an active citizen’s advisory group (Kodiak Unified Bear Subcommittee) and a portion of the funding has come from a non- profit trust fund (Kodiak Brown Bear Trust) that was initially established by construction of a hydro-electric facility. Bear densities on Kodiak average 220 bears/1000 km², and are slowly increasing even while support- ing an average annual harvest of about 200 bears per year, with some of the largest brown bears ever reported in North America being taken on the Kodiak Archipelago. © Alaska Department Fish of and Game (ADF&G) This spring’s research activities Egor Nikolaev and Egor Kirillin investigate fresh bear scat at Karluk Lake, Alaska. were centered around the Karluk Lake drainage on the southwest end agers and researchers in Yakutia are mendations and strongly encouraged of Kodiak Island. We started with an growing concerned about the Repub- further communication, including an intensive aerial survey of bear habitat lic’s bear population, because growing invitation to visit Kodiak Island to as- surrounding Karluk Lake. These industrial development and resource sist with on-going bear investigations. surveys entail use of small two-seat extraction are increasing bear/hu- man interactions, with a majority of these encounters ending in negative consequences for the bear. As such, Sakha’s biologists are eager to increase their knowledge of the region’s bear population by developing a unified and consistent method of accurately enumerating bear populations, and gaining a better understanding of bear movement patterns, habitat use, and population dynamics. During the summer of 2009, the Sakha Republic invited bear biologists from the Northern Forum Brown Bear Workgroup and the North Asia Brown Bear Expert Team to spend a week in Yakutia learning about the challenges facing wildlife biologists in the region. The group visited resource-extrac- tion and transportation sites, a local reindeer-herding village, and typical brown bear habitat. They also met © Alaska Department Fish of and Game (ADF&G) with researchers, managers, civic leaders and representatives from large Sophia Kholomogorova and Egor Kirillin join ADF&G biologist Matt Van Daele local industries. At the culmination in analyzing bear survey data amidst posters used to translate important phrases and words for our bear capture work. of the visit, the teams drafted recom-

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 23 Bear Specialist Group aircraft (Piper Cub and Aviat Husky) • Harendra Bargali flying low-level surveys of specific Bear Specialist [email protected] quadrants at a rate of 2 minutes/km². Group Coordinating After several replicates of each Giant Panda Expert Team quadrant during a week-long opera- Committee Chair tion, density estimates and confidence • Ron Swaisgood intervals can be determined. While BSG Co-chairs [email protected] our Russian guests had used similar • Dave Garshelis techniques for moose surveys, modi- [email protected] Andean Bear Expert Team fication of the technique for use on • Bruce McLellan Co-chairs bears was very interesting to them. [email protected] • Isaac Goldstein They were particularly enamored [email protected] with our “Lilliputian” survey planes Red List Authority Focal Point • Ximena Velez-Liendo because the smallest aircraft available • Rob Steinmetz [email protected] for aerial surveys in their region is the [email protected] Trade in Bear Parts Expert lumbering 12 passenger An-2 biplane. European Brown Bear Expert Soon after the surveys, we began Team Co-chairs our capture operation. We used a Team Co-chairs • Chris Servheen Hughes 500-D helicopter to dart 28 • Djuro Huber [email protected] adult bears and deployed 22 GPS and [email protected] • Chris Shepherd 3 VHF radio-collars. The remote • Jon Swenson [email protected] release, downloadable GPS technology [email protected] Captive Bears Expert Team on the transmitters seemed especially North Asian Brown Bear applicable to future studies in Yakutia Co-chairs where aircraft support is expensive Expert Team Co-chairs • Lydia Kolter and difficult to obtain. Our Russian • Larry Van Daele [email protected] colleagues were active participants in [email protected] • Jackson Zee all aspects of the captures, and in spite • Tsutomu Mano [email protected] of language differences we learned a [email protected] Human-Bear Conflicts tremendous amount from each other. South Asian Brown Bear Among the most productive and Expert Team Chair informative aspects of the meetings Expert Team Co-chairs • John Beecham in Sakha and field work in Alaska • Ozgun Emre Can [email protected] were long evenings spent discussing [email protected] everything from politics, culture, and • S. Sathyakumar Mexican Black Bear biology - all with remarkable support [email protected] Coordinator and patience from our translator. We Asiatic Black Bear Expert • Diana Crider have a tremendous amount to share [email protected] with each other and immersion into Team Co-chairs each other’s culture during these • Dave Garshelis Technical & Scientific Advisors exchanges is far more effective than [email protected] • Michael Proctor only attending professional meetings. • Mei-hsiu Hwang [email protected] Hopefully, our cooperation and work [email protected] • John Seidensticker [email protected] this summer will continue to benefit Sun Bear Expert Team bears and researchers on both sides of • Chuck Schwartz the Bering Sea in the years to come. Co-chairs [email protected] • Gabriella Fredriksson [email protected] IBA Representative • Rob Steinmetz • Frank vanManen [email protected] [email protected] Sloth Bear Expert Team Polar Bear Specialist Group Co-chairs Chair • Naim Akhtar • Erik Born [email protected] [email protected]

24 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Americas 114 kg, scoring 19 of a possible 20 in at age 1, three at age 2, one at age 3, One Very Old Bear bone prominence condition index two at age 5, two at age 7, and one at (Noyce et al. 2002), and registering 38% age 16. Six lived to produce cubs of Karen Noyce and Dave Garshelis body fat using bio-impedence analysis their own, totaling at least 47 known Forest Wildlife Populations and (BIA; Farley and Robbins 1994). grand-daughters of #56, and 30 great- Research Group After 2001, we discontinued granddaughters, of which 22 were Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources routine tranquilization and handling produced by a single granddaughter Grand Rapids MN, USA of #56, except to replace her radio- that lived to be 22 before she was shot Email: [email protected] collar every three years. We did not by a hunter. Many more descendents [email protected] guess at the time that she would still are unaccounted for, including, of be roaming her woods nine years course, all those sired by #56’s male It is rare in bear studies to get the later. In March 2010, #56 was due for offspring. opportunity to follow a bear into old collar replacement. We found her in Information on natural longevity age. In hunted populations of Ameri- a well-made underground den and and reproductive senescence in bears is can black bears, Ursus americanus, administered about 2/3 the Telazol rare and slow to accumulate. Schwartz (which most populations are) few dose that we would normally give for et al. (2003) compiled data from 20 bears live to be 20, and fewer still live her expected weight. She weighed 4 studies from North America and into their mid- to late 20's. Among kg more than expected, so the actual Sweden and modeled reproductive ma- the more than 550 black bears that we dose was 2.7 mg/kg. Her response to turity and senescence in brown bears have radio-collared in various studies the anesthesia was rapid and smooth, (Ursus arctos). Modeling estimated around Minnesota, USA, since 1981, with no complications. She weighed rapid rates of senescence between however, one female has defied the 87 kg, scored well (11) in bone promi- 28 and 30 years old, but even in this odds. Bear #56, radio-collared at 7 nence index for late winter, and reg- large data set, only one individual was years old in July, 1981, the first sum- istered 19% body fat using BIA. This handled or observed beyond the age of mer of our studies, turned 36 years old was similar to the last time she had 30 (she was monitored to age 34). this winter, outliving any other bear been handled in March 2007, when We are interested in compiling data we have encountered in our work by she weighed 82 kg and also tested at on old age and senescence in black 13 years. Moreover, since the year of 19% fat. The most noticeable changes bears from other studies across North bear #56’s birth, we have collected and were in her mouth: since 2007, #56 America. We would be interested in aged 55,000 teeth from hunter-killed had lost a canine and several incisors hearing from others who have data on bears – only three (0.005%) lived past were missing or worn to or below condition and reproduction in black 30, the oldest being 33. the gum line. Her molars were still bears over the age of 20. Bear #56 passed one milestone in present, however, with several mil- 2002 at 28 years old, when she became limeters showing above the gum line the only bear we have monitored to Literature Cited and plenty of grinding surface. Gums reach reproductive senescence. Signs Farley, S. D. and C.T. Robbins. 1994. appeared to have receded somewhat of reproductive slow-down had first Development of two methods to and there were three 5-10 mm sores appeared five years earlier in 1997, estimate body composition of bears. on the gums near the base of the roots when, at 23 years old, she uncharac- Canadian Journal of Zoology of remaining canines. teristically lost two of three cubs born 72:220–226. In the 29 years that she has worn to her that year, before they reached a a radio-collar, #56 bore 10 litters and Noyce, K. V., P. L. Coy, and D. L. year old. In her previous eight litters, 26 cubs — 18 females and 8 males. Garshelis. 2002. Bone prominence she had successfully reared a remark- When first captured in 1981, she had and skin-fold thickness as predic- able 21 of 22 cubs (95%) through their three cubs at her side. She was 7 years tors of body fat and reproduction first year. In 1999, at age 25, #56 bore old and weighed 65 kg. Spacing of in American black bears. Ursus only a single cub, which she brought cementum annuli indicated that she 13:275–284. through the year in good shape. had already raised one litter of cubs However, in 2001, the next year she Schwartz, C. C., K. A. Keating, H. V. at age 5. Of her 18 known daughters, was due to have cubs, we found her, by Reynolds, III, V. G. Barnes, R. A. three disappeared in their first year. then 27 years old, lactating but alone. Sellers, J. E. Swenson, S. D. Miller, The 15 surviving daughters received This was the last sign of reproductive B. N. McLellan, J. Keay, R. McCann, radio-collars at 1 year old, though activity we observed. The apparent M. Gibeau, W. F. Wakkinen, R. D. one removed hers shortly thereafter. loss of #56’s cub(s) at that time could Mace, W. Kasworm, R. S, and S. Of the 14 remaining, all were shot by not be attributed to nutrition, as she Herrero. 2003. Reproductive matu- hunters except one born in 1995 that was in excellent condition, weighing ration and senescence in the female is still alive at 15 years old. Four died brown bear. Ursus 14:109–119.

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 25 Americas "We encourage the public to help for bears, and the reliable identifica- Soliciting Public us improve this draft and develop tion of individuals is integral to this Input on a Draft the final plan," said Dave Telesco, the technique (e.g. Ríos-Uzeda et al. 2007, FWC's bear management coordina- Ngoprasert et al. 2010). Authors have Bear Management tor. "Feedback from the public will long stated that facial and frontal Plan undoubtedly improve this plan and markings can be used to identify indi- make it as effective as possible." vidual Andean bears (e.g. Roth 1964), David Telesco The draft plan is available online often likening them to a human fin- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva- for public review and comment, gerprint. Considerable work has gone tion Commission and public meetings will be held in into developing methods for individu- Email: [email protected] multiple locations across the state. ally identifying felids from their spots The plan is available for viewing and stripes (e.g. Karanth and Nichols The Florida Fish and Wildlife at http://share2.myfwc.com/BearMP/ 1998). What about the Andean bears? Conservation Commission (FWC) is default.aspx. Public comments will Are the differences in Andean bear soliciting public input on a draft bear be accepted until 31 August. Public markings sufficiently great for this to management plan. This plan sets up meeting dates and locations will be be a reliable technique? the framework for the FWC to make announced after the FWC meets with Please help answer this and other effective bear management decisions public and private representatives. long-standing questions by partici- in conjunction with stakeholders and pating in an online assessment of the public who live in bear country. your ability to recognize individual The goal of the plan is to maintain Andean bears from photographs. We sustainable bear populations in anticipate that this will require no suitable habitats throughout Florida Facial markings of more than 20 minutes of your time, for the benefit of the species and the and your participation will directly public. Andean bears – support Andean bear conservation. As a result of human population The survey will be open from growth and loss of habitat, the Florida Can YOU tell one 1 August until 30 September and can black bear's population varies greatly from another? be found at: www.andeanbearsurvey. from region to region, which requires cbg-umss.org. Thank you for your a management plan that is adaptable Susanna Paisley time and participation. to address the needs of the bear popu- Durrell Institute of Conservation and lation and the residents living in those Ecology, University of Kent References areas. Therefore, the plan creates bear Canterbury, Kent, England Karanth, K. U. and J. D. Nichols. management units across the state, Email: [email protected] 1998. Estimation of tiger densi- which will specifically address the ties in India using photographic challenges and characteristics of the Russ Van Horn captures and recaptures. Ecology. different areas. Within those units, San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conser- 79:2852-2862. black bear assistance groups will work vation Research Ngoprasert, D., R. Steinmetz, and with the FWC to set management San Diego, CA, USA G. A. Gale. 2010. The use of chest objectives and standards for resolving Email: [email protected] marks to distinguish Asiatic black human-bear conflicts. bear and sun bear individuals in Currently, the two most serious Ximena Velez-Liendo Thailand. International Bear News. threats to bears are negative interac- Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética, 19:18-20. tions with humans and habitat loss Universidad Mayor de San Simón and fragmentation. As a result, the Cochabamba, Bolivia Roth, H. H. 1964. Ein Beitrag zur draft plan sets objectives, which Email: [email protected] Kenntis von Tremarctos ornatus include conserving an adequate (Cuvier). Der Zoologische Garten. amount of bear habitat, stabilizing Becky Zug 29:107-129. bear complaint levels and securing Carnivore Coexistence Lab, University Ríos-Uzeda, B., H. Gómez, and R. B. adequate funding for implementation. of Wisconsin-Madison Wallace. 2007. A preliminary FWC staff drafted the plan with Madison, WI, USA density estimate for Andean bear assistance from a technical advisory Email: [email protected] using camera-trapping methods. group that included representatives Ursus. 18:124-128. from environmental groups, hunting Camera traps have become a clubs and state and federal agencies. mainstay of population estimation

26 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Americas Presence of the Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in the Yungas of Puno, Peru's Southernmost Record Gisella Márquez Donayre Mammals Department Natural History Museum of San Marcos University Av. Arenales 1256 Lima 14 - Perú Tel: (51 1) 4710117 anexo 31 / (51 1) 987114562 Email: [email protected]

Víctor Pacheco, Ph.D. Curator of Mammals Natural History Museum of San Marcos University Lima, Perú. Email: [email protected]

The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is an en- demic species of the Tropical Andes and is the only representa- tive of the Family Ursidae in South America (Ríos-Uzeda et al. 2005). In Peru, the Andean bear is distributed along the three chains of the Andes, and the largest bear population within the country is found on the eastern slopes of the Oriental Range (Peyton 1999). The Oriental Range crosses the north from Departamento Puno, Fig. 1 Map of the Andean Bear’s records at southern of Peru. where Bahuaja Sonene National Park regarding the diversity of mammals Yanahuaya and Yanacocha, with (BSNP) is located. This natural area around and within BSNP is scarce. elevations of 1200, 1600 and 1985 is very important for Peru, because it Thus in August 2009, the Natural m, respectively. Lower cloud forest belongs to the core of the Conserva- History Museum of San Marcos can be found across Yanacocha and tion Corridor Vilcabamba - Amboró, University organized an expedition to Yanahuaya while premontane forest one of the most important conserva- evaluate mammalian species richness dominates Challohuma (Young 1992). tion corridors in the world due to its in the area. At Yanacocha, the large-mammal location in a region of high biological The study area included three sign-censuses were carried out along and cultural diversity (Ministerio sites located outside of the buffer a vertical linear transect (470m × 2m) de Agricultura 2003). Information zone (BZ) of BSNP: Challohuma, of strong slope, where an Andean bear

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 27 Americas importance to the records found in Puno because it shows continuity in the distribution of this species along the eastern slopes of the Andes from southern Peru to northwestern Bolivia. Unfortunately, numerous threats are evident for Andean bear conserva- tion within the region, being remark- able the level of deforestation, informal mining and the construction of a road which will facilitate the access to BSNP. These activities affect Andean bear’s habitat availability in this re- gion. Also, in the near future, activities so close to Bolivia’s border could act as a barrier, isolating part of the bear populations from southern Peru from those in northwestern Bolivia. Therefore, we suggest that the Peruvian State and the regional ©Gisella Márquez government of Puno together with Fig. 2 Scat of Andean Bear with seeds of Lauraceae at 2,000 m of elevation approximately, region’s university conduct studies near to the town of Yanacocha. about the status of bear populations scat was found containing seeds of Challohuma also borders Bolivia in this region, especially regarding Lauraceae (Fig. 2) at 2,000 m of eleva- (the Integrated Management Natu- habitat use and availability to identify tion approximately, near to the town ral Area Apolobamba and Madidi the factors that could impact the local of Yanacocha. Three days before, very National Park), where Paisley and bear population and to establish its close to the place where the scat was Garshelis (2005) reported the most long-term viability within the region. found, there was a strong burning of a northwestern record of Andean bear In conclusion, these two records patch of forest for farming purposes. in Bolivia, in the Madidi National based on indirect evidence of the In Challohuma, tracks left by large Park (Fig. 1). This information gives presence of Andean bear to the south mammals were evaluated through an intensive observation while installing a line of traps to assess non-flying small mammals. The total distance traveled in this transect was approxi- mately 380 m. As result of that evalu- ation, the second record of Andean bears was found on this location at 1265 m, including bear claw-marks on a tree of 20 m of height approximately, likely left while the bear was climbing in search of food (Fig. 3). Previous records in the Departamento Puno are based on indirect information gathered through interviews with lo- cal people (Figueroa and Stucchi 2009, Tapia 2008) and the only skin col- lected of the species in Puno in 1950 (GBIF 2010) does not provide explicit information about its location. Thus, the record found in Challohuma ap- ©Gisella Márquez pears to be the southernmost evidence Fig. 3 Bear claw-marks on a tree at 1265 m of elevation, likely left while the bear of Andean bear presence in Peru. was climbing in search of food, near to the town of Challohuma.

28 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Americas of the BZ of BSNP suggest their historia natural. Asociación para S. Herrero, and B. Peyton. (compil- presence in the Departamento Puno la Investigación y Conservación ers). Gland: IUCN/SSC Bear and and in the extreme south of Peru. de la Biodiversidad-AICB. Primera Polar Bear Specialist Groups. Furthermore these records indicate edición. Lima, Perú. p. 13-18. Ríos-Uzeda B., H. Gómez and R. B. that the bears move outside protected GBIF 2010. (en línea). Global Wallace. 2005. Habitat preferences areas and biological corridors, so that biodiversity information facility. of the Andean bear (Tremarctos conservation strategies should include http://secretariat.mirror.gbif.org/ ornatus) in the Bolivian Andes. activities both inside and outside of occurrences/62030584/. Acceso Journal of Zoology 268:271–278. the buffer zone of the BSNP. Finally, 15/05/2010. we suggest developing binational proj- Tapia T. 2008. Nuevos aportes ects (Peru-Bolivia) to help establish Ministerio de Agricultura. 2003. sobre la presencia del Oso Andino management and conservation plans Plan Maestro del Parque Nacional (Tremarctos ornatus) en la región for the spectacled bear in adjacent Bahuaja Sonene 2003-2008. Lima, de Puno, Perú. Resumen para el areas to the Conservation Corridor Perú. Pp. 24-42. II Simposio Internacional del Oso Vilcabamba -Amboró. Andino. Lima, Perú. Paisley S. and D. L. Garshelis. 2005. This expedition was made pos- Activity patterns and time budgets Young K. 1992. Biogeography sible by funding from Centro de of Andean bears (Tremarctos of the montane forest zone Investigación de la Universidad San ornatus) in the Apolobamba Range of the Eastern slopes of Peru. Marcos and the Asociación Peruana of Bolivia. Journal of Zoology Memorias del Museo de Historia para la Conservación de la Naturaleza 268:25–34. Natural, U.N.M.S.M. Lima, Perú (APECO). 21:5, 119‑154. Peyton B. 1999. Spectacled bear References conservation action plan. In Bears: Figueroa J. and M. Stucchi. 2009. status survey and conservation ac- El oso andino: alcances sobre su tion plan. p. 157–164. Servheen, C.,

Captive Bears childhood. Wong grew up surrounded the majority of his time working under Captive Bear News: by animals. He is originally from difficult conditions in the remote for- highlighting Penang, a northern state in Peninsula est and rugged mountainous terrain of Malaysia. Before entering elementary Taiwan. His duties included setting up professionals behind school, he had already hand-raised camera traps and small mammal traps the scenes many house sparrows and common to record mammals, and conducting myna chicks, nursed a baby civet surveys of birds, reptiles and amphib- Jordan Schaul, Conservation (cat-sized mammal of the Family ians. Wong also assisted on one of the Biology/Curation Viverridae), and took care of many first radio-telemetry studies of Formo- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center household pets. san Reeves's muntjac in Taiwan, work- Email: [email protected] In high school, Wong bred dogs, ing closely with the local aboriginal fish, and birds, and by that time had hunters in trapping, radio-collaring already decided on a career working and radio-tracking wild muntjacs for Siew Te Wong, Bornean Sun with animals. He first studied abroad an ecological study of this small-sized Bear Conservation Centre in 1989, obtaining a diploma in Ani- ungulate. He spent the rest of his time Siew Te Wong is a Malaysian mal Science and Veterinary Medicine in the lowland working at the newly wildlife biologist who has been from National Pingtung University established Pingtung Rescue Center studying and working on the ecologi- of Science and Technology, Taiwan, for Wild Endangered Species, another cal conservation of the Malayan sun in 1992. He then began his wildlife long-term project run by Professor bear since 1998. Commonly known as career working as a research assistant Pei. At the wildlife rescue center, “Wong” to his colleagues and friends with the Wildlife Research Lab of Wong applied his animal husbandry and sun bear enthusiasts worldwide, Professor Kurtis Pei from the same skills and veterinary knowledge in he has a long history of working with university. For two years, Wong spent taking care of many wildlife species, wildlife and animals dating back to his

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 29 Captive Bears including orangutan, revealed the elusive life gibbons, macaques, history of the sun bear in sun bears, civets, the dense jungle and other tigers, and snakes, important aspects of rain- all victims of the forest ecology. Subsequent pet trade and illegal to obtaining his masters wildlife market in of science in 2002, Wong Taiwan. decided to continue work- In early 1994, ing with the sun bear for Wong left Taiwan his doctorate degree, again to work with the under the supervision of Malaysian Nature Dr. Servheen at the Univer- Society, one of two sity of Montana. In 2005, local conservation Wong returned to Danum NGOs in Malaysia. It Valley to investigate the ef- was then, at the age fects of selective logging on of 25, that Wong first sun bears and bearded pigs learned about the as his doctoral research flora and fauna of the topic. He completed the Malaysian rainfor- field work in 2008. est and realized the Upon beginning his importance of con- research on the sun bear, serving the vanishing Wong noticed that sun rainforest and its bears as a bear species wildlife. He decided are virtually unknown to continue his study by the general public and in Wildlife Biology reflected by a correspond- at the University of ing lack of conservation Montana, MT, in the interest. Yet there were USA later that year. serious threats to the There he met Dr. species due to habitat Chris Servheen, who loss and fragmentation, then co-chaired the poaching for body parts, IUCN/SSC Bear Spe- and the illegal pet trade. cialist Group and was Moreover, there were many looking for a Malay- captive sun bears being sian student to conduct the first ever Wong returned to Taiwan to work at kept as pets in substandard conditions study of sun bear ecology in Malaysia. the Pingtung Wildlife Rescue Centre, with virtually no effort taken by local Over the following three years, Wong again caring for wildlife species in conservation NGOs and government and Chris worked closely together to captivity. agencies to improve captive conditions prepare a sun bear study in Borneo to As the date to begin his study of the or efforts to conserve the sun bear in begin in 1998 as Wong's masters proj- sun bear got closer, Wong began to the wild. In view of the bleak future ect. Even during his time in the US, learn about bear handling and other for the sun bear and paucity of sig- Wong's passion to learn more about aspects of bear research. In the sum- nificant action taking place to change Malaysian wildlife never stopped. In mer of 1997, he worked with US Fish the current situation, Wong founded the summer of 1995, he worked as and Wildlife Service's Cabinet-Yaak the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation a volunteer in Peninsular Malaysia Ecosystem Grizzly and Black Bear Centre (BSBCC) with the help from mist-netting and banding birds in Research Project in Montana, USA. In LEAP, a newly established NGO day time and trapping bats at night. 1998, Wong finally started his masters based in Sabah, and in collaboration According to Wong, that summer was program and began his field work with Sabah Wildlife Department and the most extensive and laborious field studying sun bear ecology at Danum Sabah Forestry Department in 2008. work that he ever conducted, working Valley, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo. This The Centre aims to promote sun bear both day and night in the rainforest. research lasted until the end of 2000. conservation by (1) creating the capac- Twice, he almost succumbed to severe His pioneering studies of sun bear ity to rehabilitate and release suitable dehydration. The following summer, ecology in the Borneo rainforest orphaned and ex-captive bears (pet)

30 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Captive Bears back into the wild; (2) providing an passion, integrity and leadership Siew Te Wong improved long-term living environ- and whose work inspires a reverence University Hall, Room 309 ment for captive bears that cannot be for the natural world. Wong is also University of Montana released; and (3) educating the public the former co-chair of the Sun Bear Missoula MT 59812, USA and raising awareness about this little- Expert Team, under the IUCN/Species Tel: +1 406-243 4909 known bear and threats to its survival Survival Commission’s Bear Specialist Email: [email protected] through visitor programs, outreach Group and a current member of three Websites: and support for further research. IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups. Siew Te http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/ Wong is the CEO and founder Wong is currently living in Montana, http://www.leapspiral.org/content/ of the BSBCC. He was also named preparing his doctoral dissertation. project07.php a fellow of the Flying Elephants He plans to return to Sabah at the end http://www.youtube.com/user/BSBCC Foundation, which awards individu- of this year to continue his work with http://www.causes.com/causes/95651 als from a broad range of disciplines the sun bear on the ground. He can be http://twitter.com/BSBCC_SunBear. in the arts and sciences who have reached at: demonstrated singular creativity,

Student Forum

yet again, some of their exceptional Over almost one and a half hours the Georgia Student “survival” skills and why the IBA con- attendants of the session discussed the Session tinues investing in student activities. most urgent student issues and even Without any preparation and within managed to formulate several sugges- Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, PhD the shortest of notices, the IBA stu- tions for improving student participa- ARCTUROS dents managed almost on their own to tion in the IBA. These include: Thessaloniki, Greece gather together and drag several IBA 1. All students believe that student professionals to the small conference sessions during the IBA conferences Ever since the inaugural session room and hold the student conference. are of major importance and would in 2004, at the 15th IBA Conference The final head count was 22 student definitely like to see them continuing. in San Diego, student sessions have and IBA professionals from various However, there is a general agreement become an integral part of each IBA countries, such as Japan, USA, UK, that student sessions would be more Conference. Since then, students have Romania, Finland, Iran and Germany. effective if they took place at the be- had the opportunity to ponder over their academic and professional future while munching on burgers and tacos in various “exotic” places around the world and student coordinators have been able to gain valuable experience in setting up these sessions. All this valuable experience went to waste, however, when the volcanic ash over Iceland, the current financial crisis and the organizational skills of a student session coordinator from …Greece (!) prevented several students from attending the 19th International Conference on Bear Research and Management in Tbilisi, Georgia. During the first four days of the Conference it seemed as if Georgia would receive the sad distinction of not holding a student session. On the last day however of the IBA President Frank van Manen addressing the IBA students during the Conference the IBA students showed, student session of the 19th IBA conference in Tbilisi, Georgia.

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 31 Student Forum ginning of the conference (even before They had left Brasov at 7:00 p.m. the ice breaker) so that students have Friday, 14 May, in an 8-person bus Truman’s List Serve more opportunities to spend “quality” with biologists Joe Sarbu, Georgetta • For students only time with IBA professionals. Ionescu, Jurj Ramon, and Marius . Student sessions should be well Popa, all scientists at the Forest and • Discussions pertaining to bear biol- advertised and planned ahead of the Wildlife Research Institute, Brasov, ogy, management, or study design conference. Romania. Bound for Tbilisi via an challenges 3. The IBA student projects arc around the south side of the Black • Assistance with proposals and website should be updated and include Sea, they drove bad roads through the study design through IBA profes- also information on the academic/pro- first night, crossing into Turkey from sionals fessional activities of previous IBA Bulgaria early Saturday morning. All • Job searches, announcements, students. agreed they made “very fast time” the information regarding the IBA and 4. The IBA should explore ways next day whenever Georgetta (fondly student membership for involving students more actively known by the four as “Mom”) slept • Planning for IBA student activities in the day to day operation of the IBA and could no longer keep driver Joe and meetings and the newsletter (i.e. as regional cor- (a.k.a. “the pilot”) under her watch- • IBA membership is encouraged, but respondents). ful eye. They described animals and not required, for initial sign-up Despite the initial difficulties, this people scattering as they flew through year’s student session was, under the villages along the sea coast, eventu- given circumstances, a great success. ally pitching a tent for a few hours of Congratulations to all the students exhausted sleep in eastern Turkey and If You’re who made this happen – see you next waking early Sunday morning to the year in Ottawa! call to prayer and dolphins playing in the surf. a Student, Crossing into Georgia Sunday morning, they thought their destina- tion was almost within sight, but soon YOU thereafter, a wrong turn landed them Brasov to Tbilisi – a on a road that took them high into the road trip to the IBA Lesser Caucuses, becoming smaller Need to and smaller until finally they could Karen Noyce drive it no further and were forced to Email: [email protected] admit that there was nothing to do but Sign Up retrace nearly 100 km. With only a bit Their arrival in Tbilisi for the of Romanian chocolate to keep them 19th Conference on Bear Research going, they pushed on, eventually NOW! and Management may not have finding their way back to where they been marked by fanfare, but it was a began by 8 p.m. that evening. Instructions momentous occasion for four Ro- Alex, Cristi, Andra, and Flaviu • Visit: manian students and their mentors. had nothing but praise and gratitude www.bearbiology.com/iba/stu. They pulled into the city in the early for their mentors, and proclaimed a html morning hours of 17 May, just in time special thanks to Georgetta Ionescu, • Follow the links to request an for the beginning of the conference, who had arranged grant funds making invitation but still a bit punch drunk from a it possible for them to attend the IBA • Do NOT reply to list serve mes- marathon 55-hour, 2500 km drive conference. Dr. Ionescu, in return, had sages using your “reply” button. through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, nothing but praise for these hard- You must return to Truman and and Georgia, that included a wrong working and high-spirited students, respond within the list serve or turn that took them 200 km out of all of whom volunteer their time in else other members will not receive their way and an off-road mountain the field and lab on projects at the your response. adventure. Though some might have Institute. Attending the IBA Confer- • If you’re a new member, please described it as a “trip from hell”, ence, they said, was a rich experience submit a paragraph about your Alexandru Gridan, Cristina Putanu, they won't forget, and one that has project and include your contact Andra Vacaru, and Flaviu Voda introduced them to a world of new information so we can all get to laughed their way through the telling colleagues. Welcome to the IBA! know you. of their adventure.

32 International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 Bears in Culture I worked with Palmer as scientific help filmmakers be more honest and A Review — advisor on his IMAX film “BEARS” ethical and audiences better informed Shooting in the Wild: released about eight years ago. Much about what they are seeing. Palmer of this was filmed Alaska. Throughout recognizes that conservation films an insider’s account this process Palmer listened closely to have to entertain. Indeed, this is the of making movies in advise he was given. This is reflected third of his “8 steps.” in the second of Palmer’s “8 steps” to Since Palmer has been involved the animal kingdom wildlife filmmaking reform: “Work in several bear films, many of his closely with reputable scientists.” examples deal with bears. They in- by Chris Palmer Palmer recognizes the frequent clude an accurate analysis of Timothy Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. fiscal imperative of putting interesting Treadwell’s incorrect messaging. US$24.95 (softbound) spokespersons into films. Although Treadwell and his girlfriend were it is my personal preference to leave killed by a bear in Katmai National Sterling Miller actual or self-proclaimed experts Park in 2003 so Palmer treats him National Wildlife Federation out of wildlife films, many wildlife with perhaps more sympathy than I Missoula MT, USA films benefit from this. For “BEARS”, would have preferred.. Palmer correct- Email: [email protected] Chris listened to me when I com- ly concludes that Treadwell did more mented on the unsuitability of some harm for grizzlies than good. Steve Biologists of all kinds but espe- Irwin of Animal Planet is another cially those working with bears and who built his reputation by getting other large carnivores frequently too close to animals and setting have to deal with filmmakers. Those a bad example for his viewers. of us working in parks frequently As Palmer points out, Irvin - like have to design and issue permits to Treadwell - ultimately was killed filmmakers while those of us doing by one of the animals he abused field studies get numerous requests while professing to love. to film our activities. For all who are From my perspective, one in this situation, and others who are shortcoming of the book was interested in how wildlife films are the absence of anything beyond made, this book is worth reading. anecdotal information about Chris Palmer has had a long career the efficacy of wildlife films in as a wildlife film-maker for National influencing audiences’ views about Audubon and National Wildlife nature and conservation issues. Federation so he knows the ins and There is a strong presumption outs of the business very well. He is that this link exists but, according currently the Founder and Director to Palmer when I asked him about of the Center for Environmental this, there is a lack of empirical Filmmaking at American Universi- evidence showing the link. This ty’s School of Communications in is a fruitful area for some future Washington DC. From this academic social scientist to examine. perspective, Palmer is able to think As a child, I remember seeing and write philosophically and in- in the 1958 Disney film White sightfully about his own experiences Wilderness shots of lemmings as a wildlife filmmaker and also leaping off of arctic cliffs in what was described as “mass suicides.” comment on what constitutes ethical early-suggested spokespeople, who and unethical filmmaking practices I believed this for years until I discov- would have provided human interest ered in college that lemmings did not based on the experiences of his many but also would have given a platform colleagues. Many of his colleagues do such a thing. In Alaska, I learned to individuals who did not merit it. that the Disney filmmakers actually may not appreciate being exposed Although it is frequently difficult to in the way Palmer does, especially paid native kids to capture lemmings draw the line between shots which which were then driven en-mass off those who pass off footage of captive have high human interest but provide animals and created circumstances as cliffs to their deaths in the sea below. misleading information on scientific Shooting in the Dark lifts the veil off shots of animals behaving naturally in or technical matters, the guidelines the wild. such practices that are still used by far Palmer presents in this book will too many filmmakers.

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SEND TO: Terry D. White, Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory, 274 Ellington Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996, USA, Fax: +1 865-974-3555 Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery alsoForm available at revised 2008-09 IBA Officers & Council Executive Council Officers Cecily Costello Koji Yamazaki, Member 10 10 Frank van Manen Treasurer Zoological Laboratory President 10 PO Box 567 Ibaraki Nature Museum USGS Southern Appalachian Field Manhattan MT 59741, USA 700 Osaki Iwai-City Laboratory Phone: +1 406-284-3477 Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan University of Tennessee Email: [email protected] Phone: +81 297-38-2000 274 Ellington Hall Phone: +81 297-38-1999 Knoxville TN 37996, USA Executive Council Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 865-974-0200 Mei-Hsiu Hwang, Member 11 Fax: +1 865-974-3655 Institute of Wildlife Conservation Ex-officio, Non-voting Members Email: [email protected] National Pingtung University of Tanya Rosen Science & Technology, International Bear Newsletter Editor Harry Reynolds 1 Hsech Fu Road, Nei Pu, Pingtung, Northern Rockies Conservation Past President 91201, Taiwan. Cooperative PO Box 80843 Phone: +886-8-7740516 P.O. Box 1404 Fairbanks AK 99708, USA Fax: +886-8-7740417 Ennis MT 59729, USA Phone: +1 907-479-5169 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Alexandros A Karamanlidis, Member 11 Rich Harris, Ursus Editor Andreas Zedrosser ARCTUROS 2175 S 11th Street Vice President for Eurasia 11 Rogoti Str. 3 Missoula MT 59801, USA Insitute for Ecology and Natural Res- 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece Phone & Fax: +1 406-542-6399 source Management Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Norwegian University of Life Sciences 10 Pb. 5003 Michael Proctor, Member Dave Garshelis N-1432 Ås Norway PO Box 920 Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair Email: [email protected] Kaslo BC Canada V0G 1M0 Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Phone: +47-6496-5393 Phone: +1 250-353-7339 1201 East Highway 2 Fax: +47-6496-5801 Email: [email protected] Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA and 10 Phone: +1 218-327-4146 Shyamala Ratnayeke, Member Email: [email protected] Department of Integrative Biology Division of Science and Technology Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Georgia Gwinnett College Bruce McLellan Management 1886 Bldg A, 1000 University Center Ln Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair University of Natural Ressources and Lawrenceville GA 30043 USA Box 1732 Applied Life Sciences, Vienna Phone: +1 678-407-5646 D’arcy BC, V0N 1L0, Canada Gregor Mendel str. 33 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] A-1180 Vienna, Austria Jon Swenson, Member 10 Jordan Schaul, AZA Liaison Karen Noyce Department of Ecology and Natural Email: [email protected] Vice President for Americas 10 Resource Management Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Agricultural University of Norway Brian Scheick 1201 East Highway 2 Box 5003, NO-1432 IBA Student Coordinator Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA Ås, Norway Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Phone: +1 218-327-4432 Phone: 47 64 94 85 30 Commission Fax: +1 218-327-4181 Email: [email protected] 1526 Kelvin Avenue Email: [email protected] Deltona FL 32738-5002, USA Ximena Velez-Liendo, Member 11 Phone: +1 386-789-7063 Diana Doan-Crider Ecology & Evolutionary Group Email: [email protected] Secretary 10 University of Antwerp PO Box 185 2020 Antwerp, Belgium Comfort TX 78013, USA and Phone: +1 830-324-6550 3252 B. Franklin Email: [email protected] Cochabamba, Bolivia Phone: +592 4 4431312 10 term expires 2010 Email: [email protected] 11 term expires 2011

International Bear News August 2010, vol. 19 no. 3 37 International Bear News Distribution PO Box 462 NONPROFIT Brookeville MD 20833 U.S. POSTAGE PAID USA SUBURBAN, MD PERMIT NO. 2774 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

About the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization open to profes- sional biologists, wildlife managers, and others dedicated to the conservation of all bear species. The organization has over 550 members from over 50 countries. It supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of informa- tion. The IBA sponsors international conferences on all aspects of bear biology, ecology, and management. The proceedings are published as peer-reviewed scientific papers in the journal Ursus. IBA Mission Statement Goal: The goal of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is to promote the conservation and restoration of the world’s bears through science-based research, management, and education. Objectives: In support of this goal, IBA’s objectives are to: 1. Promote and foster well-designed research of the highest professional standards. 2. Develop and promote sound stewardship of the world’s bears through scientifically based population and habitat management. 3. Publish and distribute, through its conferences and publications, peer-reviewed scientific and technical information of high quality addressing broad issues of ecology, conservation, and management. 4. Encourage communication and collaboration across scientific disciplines and among bear researchers and managers through conferences, workshops, and newsletters. 5. Increase public awareness and understanding of bear ecology, conservation, and management by encouraging the translation of technical information into popular literature and other media, as well as through other educational forums. 6. Encourage the professional growth and development of our members. 7. Provide professional counsel and advice on issues of natural resource policy related to bear management and conservation. 8. Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. 9. Encourage full international participation in the IBA through the siting of conferences, active recruitment of international members and officers, and through financial support for international research, travel to meetings, memberships, and journal subscriptions. 10. Through its integrated relationship with the Bear Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission, identify priorities in bear research and management and recruit project proposals to the IBA Grants Program that address these priorities. 11. Build an endowment and a future funding base to provide ongoing support for IBA core functions and for the IBA Grants Program. 12. Support innovative solutions to bear conservation dilemmas that involve local communities as well as national or regional governments and, to the extent possible, address their needs without compromising bear conservation, recognizing that conservation is most successful where human communities are stable and can see the benefits of conservation efforts. 13. Form partnerships with other institutions to achieve conservation goals, where partnerships could provide additional fund- ing, knowledge of geographical areas, or expertise in scientific or non-scientific sectors.

Deadline for the November 2010 issue is 5 October 2010 printed with soy-based ink on 100% recycled, post-consumer waste paper