International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group May 2008 Vol

International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group May 2008 Vol. 16 no. 2

Bear Versus Highway, page 18

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

Council News Student Forum 3 From the President 29 Student List Serve (Truman) 4 Research and Conservation Grants 30 Truman Update 6 Bear Conservation Fund 30 Student Highlight - Robyn Appleton

Bear Specialist Group Bears in Culture 7 World Wide Meeting of Specialist Group 30 Bear Tooth Ornaments from the Blasky Chairs Mounds in North Dakota 8 BSG-IBA Provide Joint Congressional Testimony on Bear Protection Act (U.S.) Publications 14 Bear Specialist Group 32 Ursus Volume 19(1) 2008 32 Recent Bear Literature Eurasia 15 Bears in Austria: an Uncertain Future Communications 15 Genetic Monitoring of Bears in Trentino, 33 Chris Servheen Receives Chicago Italy Zoological Society Conservation Award 16 Monitoring the Status of Bears in Greece 33 Memorial: Judith S. Smith 17 Challenges and Problems Associated with Brown Bear Range Expansion in Greece Events 18 Evaluating the Status of Brown Bears in 34 10th Western Black Bear Workshop Albania & FYROM 34 20th Eastern Black Bear Workshop 18 Greece - Egnatia Highway and Brown Bears 35 Second International Symposium on the 19 Human-Brown Bear Conflict in Turkey Andean Bear 21 Foraging for Dung Beetles: A Tasty Treat 37 9th Mountain Lion Workshop 22 Asiatic Black Bear in Dachigam National IBA Park, Kashmir 39 IBA Membership Application Americas 40 IBA Publications Order Form 23 Florida Bears 43 IBA Officers and Council 24 Louisiana Bears 44 IBA Mission Statement 27 Environmental Education Program “Fronti the Guaro Bear” 27 First Andean Bear Tagged with GPS Collar 28 Chapter 9: Spectacled Bear Conservation Action Plan Translated to Spanish 28 Erratum

Cover photo courtesy of Yorgos Mertzanis

International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564, quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) Editors: Matt Durnin (Managing), Jordan Schaul (Correspondence), Janissa Balcomb (Layout), Jim Tomlin (Production/Distribution), Tanya Rosen (Translation) 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 August 2008 is July 5, 2007 Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted – do not reproduce without permission. Membership Use the form on page 39 to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information. International Bear News May 2008, vol. 16 no. 2 Council News that we are selective in weighing in on tions committee (Jon Swenson [chair], From the President particular issues and that we carefully Matt Durnin, Lydia Kolter, and Koji review each case based on our policy- Yamazaki) and they will announce the Frank van Manen guidance criteria. Please check out nominations in the August newslet- University of Tennessee current and past position statements ter. Nominations can also be made 274 Ellington Hall on our website for more details (www. by individual members of IBA up to 1 Knoxville, TN 37996, USA bearbiology.com/iba/about0/letts. September 2008. We are working on Email: [email protected] html). an online voting system but this may One of the most effective ways for not yet be ready this summer. There- It’s late March and I’m writing this IBA to support bear conservation is fore, for one last time we may send on the backporch enjoying the first through our Research and Conserva- a mail-in ballot for election of these true spring weather in east Tennessee. tion and Experience and Exchange positions. It looks like we had a productive cub grants with funds from IBA’s Bear On that same ballot, IBA members year in the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Fund (see the report will also be asked to ratify new bylaws, and we already have seen reports of by Karen Noyce). This was another which were recently approved by the black bear encounters and human- successful year with about $60,000 in IBA Council. Changes to the bylaws bear incidents in the newspapers and donations. I am extremely grateful to were necessary as part of a process on the evening news. I have to remind all our donors, many of whom have for IBA to become incorporated. The myself that only 30 years ago it wasn’t been long-term supporters of IBA. I previous Council made the decision so clear what the future of black bears am also excited about the tremendous to become incorporated in response would look like. Yet, through concert- support we received from the zoo to rapidly changing requirements for ed research and management efforts community this year and look forward non-profit organizations in the U.S. by universities and wildlife agencies, to developing closer ties with zoos and We have sought the assistance of an the future of the American black bear zoo associations around the world. I attorney, who suggested some changes here and throughout most of its range hope we can build on this momentum and additions to our bylaws as one of is very secure. Of course, this is not and keep this important program the requirements for incorporation. the case for many populations of the growing. This is an important step to maintain remaining bear species. This contrast The 2008 recipients of Research the non-profit status of IBA in the long is the very topic you will find in this and Conservation grants are an- term, to protect our organization, and newsletter: please read the testimony nounced in this newsletter and I’m to encourage donations, as donors in- to the U.S. Congress provided by Dave delighted to see the breadth of topics creasingly pay attention to the accom- Garshelis on behalf of IBA and the and geographic areas of the funded plishments, efficiency, and governing Bear Specialist Group regarding the proposals. The 9 projects that were rules of non-profit organizations. With Bear Protection Act. The ultimate funded involve 5 species of bears in 9 an all-volunteer council and low over- message of the testimony is that, to be different countries. The grants review head costs we have a very good record, effective, a concerted effort is needed committee chaired by Fred Dean which will only be enhanced once we to support research and conservation spends a lot of time and effort select- are incorporated. The specific changes of Asian bears. ing the best projects and I commend to the bylaws will be explained on the In addition to this testimony, IBA them on the quality of their work. ballot. Your vote is important to ratify Council also approved a position state- In the previous newsletter I men- these interim bylaws and make them ment regarding the potential impacts tioned that one of my goals for IBA is permanent. of the U.S.-Mexico border fence on to get broader international recogni- With busy field seasons rapidly American black bear populations. tion and participation. I have received approaching for many of us, we will With the help of Diana Doan-Crider, excellent suggestions from members. be spending time where we love to be: we sent a letter to a U.S. Senator from An important step in all this is to the ecosystems and landscapes that Texas requesting that black bear popu- increase IBA membership outside of support bear populations. However, lations be considered in the evaluation North America. I have asked Djuro for many people just the thought that of environmental impacts of the bor- Huber to chair the membership com- those areas still exist is important, der fence. We also suggested that bor- mittee and present a plan to council by even if they never get to visit them. It der security may actually be used as a late spring. Another way to increase is such simple reminders that should way to monitor wildlife populations. international representation is through make us realize how important our Such letters and position statements our elections. We will have elections mission is. Good luck with all your represent an important tool for IBA to coming up this fall for 4 positions, endeavors in support of bear conser- promote and influence science-based vice-president–Eurasia and 3 council vation this summer, wherever they policy decisions. I should point out members. I have appointed a nomina- may be.

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Council News value, project locations and workers in Ursus and other appropriate outlets. Research and outside of North America and the The R&C Grants part of the IBA Conservation other more developed regions, and Website needs considerable updating; proposals that are soundly designed unfortunately some material that had Grants Program with a high chance of being completed. been posted got dropped in the several Nine grants have been offered; they changes of Webmasters. I expect to Fredrick C. Dean (Chair) essentially use all of the $55,640. that work on this over the next few months 810 Ballaine Road was available this year. Information on and hope to make it considerably more Fairbanks AK 99709-6606, USA the individual projects that received informative and interesting than it is at Phone: +1 907-479-6607 grant offers is shown in Table 1. present. I would be happy to receive Email: [email protected] As usual, we had more really good copies of recent reports, publications, proposals than we had funds for. A and pictures related to projects that We received 20 proposals which number of these did not rank higher were supported in part or entirely with in total requested just over $127,000. simply because they were related to IBA R&C grants. If you have material once some budgets were revised bear populations that are in compara- that has not already been sent to me, downward. The committee incor- tively good condition compared to please feel free to send it. porated the results of reviews by the others elsewhere. Again, I want to thank all those co-chairs of the Bear Specialist Group The Committee is grateful to all associated with IBA fund-raising, the as well as by the Board of the Homer’s those who contributed to the IBA’s members of the R & C Grant Commit- Bear Conservation Fund with our Bear Conservation Fund; the steadily tee, the co-chairs of the BSG, and the usual ranking. The BSG co-chairs growing list of repeat donors and sev- board members of both the Bevins and attempted to identify the group of eral institutional donors attest to the Homer’s funds. It takes a great deal proposals that seemed to have great broader recognition afforded all of the of time and effort on the part of many conservation importance from a IBA grant programs and many other people to make the grants programs global perspective. The HBCF Board activities. We will continue to provide work. screened proposals for the best fit with feedback to donors through reports that fund’s criteria which emphasize from grantees, IBN news articles, con- projects with direct conservation ference presentations and publications

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Council News

Table 1. Summary information for Research and Conservation Grants awarded March, 2008.

Last Name Student Project? Grant Amount Location Species Appleton Ph.D. $8,000 Peru T. ornatus Aryal No $8,000 U. arctos & Nepal U. thibetanus Cristescu Ph.D. $5,225 Alberta, Canada U. arctos Islam No $8,900 Bangladesh H. malayanus, +Steinmetz travel M. ursinus, U thibetanus Karamanlidis No $3,000 Albania & FYROM U. arctos Lkhagvasuren No $7,000 Mongolia U. arctos Márquez M.Sc. $4,970 Colombia T. ornatus Murtskhva- Ph.D. $4,500 U. arctos ladze Georgia Zug M.Sc. $5,000 Ecuador T. ornatus

Table 1. Cont.

Last Name Project

Ecology and abundance of Andean Bears in the tropical Appleton dry forests of northern Peru: seasonal water sources as research opportunities. Bear survey and community-based bear Aryal conservation in the Manasalu Conservation Area. Cristescu Grizzly bear response to encroaching development in the Foothills of Alberta Islam Baseline survey of bears in Bangladesh Karamanlidis Status of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Albania and FYROM Lkhagvasuren Status of Declining Brown Bear Populations in Northern Mongolia (continuation) Márquez Building capacity to survey and monitor Andean bears in Columbia Murtskhva- ladze Survey of taxonomy and population structure of Brown Bear in Georgia Zug Conserving Andean Bears on Private Lands in the Ecuadorian Andes

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Council News like Adidas, Barnes and Noble, REI, of contributions and allocations. Bear Conservation and Patagonia. Then register yourself Fund News with www.igive.com, name the BCF All contributions received between (or other charity) as the recipient of March 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009, Karen Noyce donations you generate, and access will go into the fund for 2009 grants Vice President – Americas these merchants you are interested and programs. Special thanks this Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources in from www.igive.com. Register at year are due to all our donors, includ- 1201 East Highway 2 www.igive.com, choose the merchant, ing the following and those that wish Grand Rapids, MN 5574, USA choose the product, complete the to remain anonymous: Phone: +1 218-327-4133 purchase as usual, and name the Bear Email: [email protected] Conservation Fund as your charity of The John Sheldon Bevins Memorial choice. Easy. Foundation Zoological Society of San Diego New web location for the Bear Bear Conservation Fund Conservation Fund Bernard A. Osher Trust The Bear Conservation Fund has a Finances Marilyn Lummis This year the Bear Conservation new home on the new IBA website at Lowry Park Zoo Fund received a total of $58,257 from www.bearbiology.com/bcf. Please feel World Association of Zoos and sources including the John Sheldon free to check it out and offer sugges- Aquaria Bevins Memorial Foundation, other tions – it is still under construction Robert A. Johnston Foundation outside donors, and IBA’s own donor- and easy to add to. The site provides Little Rock Zoo directed fund, Homer’s Bear Conser- an explanation of what the BCF is, Aktiengesellschaft Zoologisjer (Kohn) vation Fund. This money is currently how money is allocated to programs, Joan Rog being distributed to the 2008 recipi- and options for donors. We will use Joshua Pierce ents of IBA’s Research & Conservation the webpage to highlight examples of Iaon Jones Grants and Experience & Exchange work the fund has supported and to Alan Brody Grants. Income from outside donors link to BCF annual reports. The ca- Matson’s Lab this year included contributions from pability of accepting on-line donations Russell van Horn 5 different zoos and zoo organizations. will be coming soon. The San Diego Zoological Society Thanks also to others who gave special donated all proceeds from their annual donations to the IBA: Igive.com benefits Bear Conser- Bear Awareness Week and has pledged vation Fund to do the same in the future. This is Eric Busch Recently an enterprising member of the second highest amount the BCF O.L. Nelson IBA registered the Bear Conservation has distributed in a year, second only Jorgos Mertzanis Fund as her charity of choice on the to 2005, when we received a $50,000 Tom McCarthy website www.igive.com. What does gift from the Bill and Nadine McGuire Naomi Turner that mean? It means that henceforth, Family Foundation. The following Jorge Andromidas whenever she makes on-line purchases table provides a breakdown summary through the website, the BCF receives a small percentage of the proceeds. It Allocation to also means that the Bear Conservation Sources of Funds Programs Fund is now listed on the website as one of charities that igive.com sup- IBA Donor Directed Funds ports. Anyone else shopping online Homer Bear Conservation Research/ through www.igive.com can ask that the BCF benefit from their purchases Fund $17,500 Conservation Grants $53,409 as well. Here’s how it works. First go to Experience/Exchange www.igive.com. There you can view the list of merchants that sell through Donations Grants $2,500 the website and the percentage of sales John Bevins Memorial Fund $14,875 receipts they agree to donate – some- Zoos and Zoo Associations $10,064 Publications Outreach $732 times as high as 8%. Dozens of mer- Private Donors $15,818 chants are accessible through the site, including many familiar companies Total $58,257 Total $58,257

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group status (Red listings) and conservation suggested that separate red-listing Worldwide Meeting actions. assessment (RLA) groups be formed of Specialist Group Specialist Groups within the SSC for all taxa (RLAs presently exist for are taxon or area specific, and are some taxa), removing this responsibil- Chairs quite diverse in scope, from those with ity from SGs. This suggestion was thousands or even millions of species not popular among SG chairs at this Bruce McLellan & Dave Garshelis (e.g., fungi, lichens, bryophytes, or- meeting. A group of five chairs was Co-chairs IUCN Bear Specialist Group chids, global trees), to a more restrict- selected to join the task force to help Emails: [email protected] ed area or subject (e.g., Korean plants, redesign the red-listing process (but [email protected] invasive species, sustainable use, keeping it within the SGs). This has reintroductions) to just a single species nothing to do with the criteria for the In February, 2008, the IUCN Spe- (e.g., Asian elephants, wolves, polar categories of threat, but rather the cies Survival Commission (SSC) held bears). Imagine a meeting targeted at process by which those criteria are the first ever meeting of Specialist such a diverse group. applied, to ensure greater uniformity Group Chairs. The meeting took The main thrust of the meeting (e.g., in the absence of hard data) and place in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates was on how the Specialist Groups can greater independence between asses- (UAE), and very generously hosted remain effective and at the forefront of sors and evaluators. and sponsored by the Environment conservation in such a rapidly chang- Agency of Abu Dhabi. It was attended ing world. Major topics included: b) Species Conservation Plan- by over 80 SG chairs and key IUCN ning: Another task force (Garshelis staff members from Headquarters and a) Red-listing: Red listing is a is a member) has been working for Regions. Both Dave Garshelis and major, high-profile task of the SSC, more than a year to design a more Bruce McLellan represented the Bear and has significant ramifications in uniform and more useful procedure Specialist Group (BSG). various parts of the world, especially for developing Conservation Action The IUCN is the world’s oldest (est. for commercially harvested species. Plans. Most present action plans (in- 1948) and largest environmental net- Currently this listing is done by SG cluding Bears, published in 1999) were work, composed of more than 1,000 members, who act as data providers, principally status reports, with very governmental and NGO members, assessors, and evaluators. There has little meaningful conservation actions. plus 10,000 volunteer scientists from recently been debate over the lack of The key to developing and imple- over 160 countries. It comprises consistency of methods used for some menting conservation actions is to six commissions, the most impor- listings, and a lack of independence of engage a variety of stakeholders. That tant of which is the SSC (est. 1949), the assessment and evaluation process means that future conservation plans acknowledged to be the backbone of (akin to a peer-review of a paper be- should be developed not just by a few the IUCN. The SSC is most notably ing conducted by co-authors). A task “experts” within SGs, but with broad known for assessments of species force assigned to deal with this issue input from governmental, NGO, and local interested parties from across the species’ range. A final report from this task force will be available by the end of the year.

c) Communication: Examples of effective communication through newsletters, websites, and the media were presented. Some SGs have particularly good websites, that are informative about the taxa, give news of conservation issues and conservation initiatives, provide reports and publications, and fundraise through online donations. We are actively involved in improving www.bearbiology.org.

Bruce McLellan (left) and Dave Garshelis in a desert in Abu Dhabi. d) Fundraising: Examples of pro- Photo credit: S. Spector ductive fundraising were presented by a number of diverse SGs. These

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group

included solicitation of private donors, One specific outcome of the meet- world. It seems likely, for example, online donations, and grant propos- ing for the BSG was the formation of that a camera-trapping project target- als to zoos and large foundations. a new meta-group of carnivore SG ing one carnivore family would obtain SG chairs varied enormously in the chairs. This includes 9 SGs: bears, data on several others (possibly includ- proportion of their time and effort polar bears, cats, canids, wolves, ing some rare species), so the effort invested in fundraising. A clear link hyenas, otters, small carnivores, and would provide the most benefit if the was apparent in the conservation ef- the Large Carnivore Initiative for results are shared among the groups. fectiveness of groups and the success Europe (LCIE). The formation of this Multi-species carnivore conservation of their fundraising. A key to success- group will enable better communica- initiatives, as exemplified by the LCIE, ful fundraising is “getting over the un- tion among those of us interested in are the ultimate goal of the group. comfortableness” in soliciting potential carnivore conservation around the donors. One chair commented that he always flies first class, and has paid for it many times over from the people he has met there and the donations thus obtained.

e) Conservation in action: Ex- amples of a variety of conservation issues and actions were presented. A key aspect was the need for input from a variety of sources: scientists, politicians, industry, NGOs, etc. Par- ticularly enlightening were examples Arabian oryx, a conservation success story, were highlighted on a fieldtrip at the from the UAE, a country not widely Specialist Group chairs meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. known for conservation, but actually Photo credit: D. Garshelis a leader on several fronts (e.g., hosting this first-ever such meeting). UAE this act if an individual state allowed asked to testify on behalf of the 2008 is using the wealth derived from oil such products to be sold. Presently a version of the BPA. Dave Garshelis revenues in a host of new conservation number of U.S. states allow hunters and Bruce McLellan consulted with initiatives, relating to wildlife, plants to sell gall bladders and paws of their Chris Servheen (co-chair of the BSG (reforestation), fish, and even carbon legally-harvested bears, and a number Trade in Bear Parts Expert Team), emissions. of other states allow the sale of such and Frank van Manen and Karen products that were legally-obtained in Noyce (President and Americas Vice BSG-IBA Provide other states (see: Williamson, 2002, In President of the IBA). Collectively we the Black, TRAFFIC North America drafted the following written testi- Joint Congressional [www.traffic.org/species-reports/traf- mony, submitted on behalf of the BSG Testimony on Bear fic_species_mammals9.pdf]). Some and IBA. Although the testimony was enforcement officials have indicated not given orally, it must be written as Protection Act (U.S.) that this represents a loophole in the if it were, and submitted by a single Lacey Act, and weakens the ability to person, who can be acting on behalf Dave Garshelis & Bruce McLellan enforce even the illegal trade in these of a group. Thus, it is written as if Co-chairs IUCN Bear Specialist Group parts across state lines. Some groups provided as oral testimony by Dave Emails: [email protected] have therefore pushed to amend the Garshelis. [email protected] Lacey Act to specifically preclude the Our position on the BPA is rather transport of all bear “viscera” across mixed. We support the potential ben- The U.S. Lacey Act (named after state lines. efits of reducing illegal trade in bear John Lacey, the “father of conservation This amendment has been the parts within the U.S., but we think the legislation in the U.S.”) was designed called the “Bear Protection Act” (BPA). bill does not go far enough in address- to thwart interstate commerce of Various versions of this act have been ing the major issues of bear trade illegally-obtained wildlife, fish, and proposed in the U.S. Congress for around the world (note that previous plants. This would cover, for ex- a number of years (since 1995), but drafts of the bill asserted that it would ample, gall bladders of poached bears. either were not heard or were defeated have far-reaching effects in Asia). However, products from legally-har- in committee. As of this writing, the bill has not vested bears would not fall under The Bear Specialist Group was been voted on.

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group on bear populations worldwide, we organizations work closely together Testimony of Dr. David L. recommend more effective legislation in gathering and utilizing scientific Garshelis that would directly address the dire information to sponsor, conduct, and Legislative Hearing on H.R. 5534: The situation for bears in Asia. Reduc- evaluate conservation and manage- Bear Protection Act of 2008 tion of poaching is the paramount ment programs on all eight species Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife issue, and a multi-faceted effort to of bears. These organizations are and Oceans accomplish this will require signifi- comprised of nearly 600 bear special- United States House of cantly increased funding. Funding is ists from over 50 countries, and in- Representatives also necessary to evaluate and address clude university professors, biologists Hearing date: March 11, 2008 the issue of Chinese and Vietnamese working in natural resource agencies, bear farms (where ~13,000 bears are non-governmental organizations, and milked for their bile), and to provide zoos, graduate students, and educa- Executive summary scientific data on the extent, rela- tors. Our members conduct scientific This testimony represents the views tive size, and changes in populations research, monitor and manage bear of the two largest groups of profes- of wild bears, which can be used to populations, interact with government sional bear biologists and conserva- highlight conservation problems and agencies to promote bear conserva- tionists in the United States and glob- direct resources. A Bear Conservation tion, and work to prevent human-bear ally (IUCN Bear Specialist Group and Act that included a funding provision conflicts. IBA sponsors international International Association for Bear Re- like that of other multinational species conferences and publishes the peer-research and Management). We applaud conservation acts would dramatically viewed scientific journal Ursus, which the desire of the U.S. Congress to aid improve the outlook for Asian bears. is the foremost source of technical in the conservation of bears. Here, we Meanwhile, we support the intent of and scientific information about the raise four principal points regarding the Bear Protection Act to crack down world’s bears. the proposed Bear Protection Act: (1) on commercial bear poachers, hoping Both groups have had input into American black bears in the U.S. (and that this is the first step in improved and approved the following testimony Canada) are thriving, and are minimal- efforts at conserving bears. regarding the proposed Bear Protec- ly affected by poaching for bear parts. tion Act. The Bear Protection Act will have little impact on populations of this Introduction species, although it may help to ap- Madam Chair and Members of Status of U.S. wild black bears prehend some poachers. (2) Poaching the Subcommittee: My name is David American black bears (Ursus for bear parts (gall bladders and paws) Garshelis, and I am delighted to have americanus) range through Canada, is still rampant in Asia, even though been invited to comment on the the United States, and northern the killing of bears and selling of bear proposed Bear Protection Act from Mexico. As recently as the 1970s, parts is illegal in most Asian countries, the perspective of a bear scientist and most U.S. states had declining popula- and import and export of bear parts applied conservationist. For the past tions, and were struggling to reverse within Asia and between Asia and the 25 years I have been a professional a long downward trend. That decline U.S. is regulated by CITES. The Bear bear researcher for the Minnesota resulted mainly from extensive forest Protection Act, as written will pro- Department of Natural Resources. For clearing combined with the unre- vide no benefit to bear populations in nearly 20 years I have also conducted stricted killing of bears as nuisances Asia. (3) We recommend two addi- research projects on Asian bears, in or pests. This trend has since been tions to the bill: the inclusion of bear collaboration with Asian students and reversed through habitat management paws among the items banned from biologists. The views expressed here (mainly targeted at other species, but trade, and an exemption for scientists are not only my own, but represent benefiting bears), stricter regulations to transport bear parts across state those of both the IUCN/SSC Bear regarding the killing of nuisance bears, lines for research purposes. Because Specialist Group (BSG) and the Inter- public education on avoiding nuisance there is great interest in the physiol- national Association for Bear Research bear situations, and tighter regulation ogy of bear hibernation and potential and Management (IBA). I co-chair the of hunter harvests. applications to human medicine, some BSG with Dr. Bruce McLellan, and am Compared with most other North organs of bears are of particular inter- an ex-officio member of the governing American big game species, American est, and are often shipped to experts in Council of the IBA. black bears have a low reproductive different parts of the country. (4) As The BSG and IBA are the larg- rate, so population recovery tends this bill suggests a genuine concern by est and most respected professional to be slow. Recovery may also be the U.S. Congress about the detrimen- organizations for wildlife biologists hampered by habitat fragmentation tal effects of the trade in bear parts working to manage, conserve, and in some places (e.g., Louisiana and restore the world’s bears. These two Florida). Nevertheless, the return of

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group robust populations of American black these parts are apprehended, wildlife No reliable estimates exist for bears has been a significant success agencies across the U.S. and Canada populations of Asiatic black bears story across the continent. indicate that such poaching has a anywhere within their range because Today at least 17 of 41 states with negligible impact on American black scientific data are lacking. However, resident black bears have populations bear populations. The legal harvest of four countries claim to have more than that are significantly increasing; none black bears is by far the largest source 5,000 Asiatic black bears (India, China, have declining populations. Addition- of mortality for this species. This and Russia, and Japan), one of which (Chi- ally, black bear migrants have ap- all other major sources of human- na) estimates more than 20,000 (China peared in such states as South Dakota, caused mortality (e.g., nuisance kills, may have half the world’s population Nebraska, and Rhode Island (where collisions with vehicles, poaching) are of this species). While these may seem they have not existed for 200 years). now controlled to the extent that in to be a large numbers, it is important The total U.S. population of black most areas, black bear populations are to realize that most Asiatic black bear bears, excluding Alaska, is estimated at thriving. populations are highly fragmented by about 300,000, and the total Canadian human activities into much smaller population likely exceeds 450,000. Status of wild bears in Asia isolates, making them even more State management agencies or univer- Of the eight species of bears in the vulnerable to uncontrolled killing sities have conducted scientific studies world, six live in Asia, and four live and potential extirpation. Only two to estimate population size and rates only in Asia. We center our comments countries are believed to have increas- of change of many U.S. bear popula- on Asian bears because they have been ing populations of this species: Japan, tions. At least 18 states estimate pop- most severely impacted by the trade where they are hunted much like the ulations of 5,000 or more black bears, in bear parts. Four Asian jurisdic- U.S., and South Korea, where they 8 of which have more than 20,000. No tions are the principal users of bear are increasing only because the small reliable estimates exist for Alaska, but gall bladders and paws (China, Taiwan, population there is being augmented the population of black bears there is Japan, and South Korea), thus prompt- with bears from Russia. Rangewide, believed to exceed 100,000, yielding ing illegal importation of these parts we estimate that numbers of Asiatic a total for the continent of ~900,000. from other Asian countries, and sale black bears have declined by 30–50% The continental population has been of parts from bears taken within these during the past 30 years. growing at about 2% per year for the countries. A major factor contributing to past two decades. Gall bladders and paws from the decline of Asiatic black bears is Black bears are presently harvested Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus), thought to be poaching for gall blad- as a game species in 28 U.S. states and Brown bears (U. arctos), Sun bears ders and paws. This information de- 12 Canadian provinces or territories. (Helarctos malayanus), and Sloth bears rives from anecdotal reports, surveys The annual hunter harvest across (Melursus ursinus) are all marketed, of local people, and occasional confis- the continent is 40,000–50,000 black but the greatest demand by far is for cations of large numbers of bear parts bears. Hunters kill bears for recreation Asiatic black bears. Accordingly, even (sometimes in the hundreds). In truth, and for products, such as the hide and in places where Asiatic black bears there is no scientific documentation of meat. Some surveys have indicated and Sun bears occur together, poach- the status of this species. Population that hunters view the acquisition of ers target the former. Sun bears and studies, which are common for bears meat as a prime reason for black bear Sloth bear populations are suffering throughout the U.S. and Canada, and hunting. The sale of meat is banned, from habitat loss and direct killing for generally funded by state and provin- but many U.S. states all Canadian reasons other than the trade in bear cial agencies, are beyond the technical provinces with black bears allow the parts (e.g., to protect crops or for hu- and/or financial means of most Asian sale of hides and skulls. It is believed, man safety), whereas the trade in bear countries, and very few American however, that few people hunt specifi- parts is a prime concern principally for biologists have been able to work on cally to sell these parts, as the profit is Asiatic black bears. Asian bears due to severe shortages of likely to be small. Asiatic black bears are very similar funding for such cooperative efforts. Bear gall bladders and paws, how- to American black bears ecologically Asiatic black bears are killed either ever, can be sold at a sizeable profit. and biologically. They occupy 18 directly by commercial bear poachers, The former is prized in Traditional countries in Asia, ranging from Iran indirectly by hunters seeking other Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the in the west, across northern India, species, such as deer or wild boar, or latter as an expensive delicacy in Asia. most of Southeast Asia, north through by people protecting their crops or The high price of these commodi- a large portion of China, the Korean property. In some countries bears are ties creates a motive to poach black Peninsula, parts of the Russian Far killed with guns, but in many countries bears. However, while each year some East, Japan, and Taiwan (see map, Ap- guns are illegal so people use wire bear poachers involved in the trade of pendix 1). snares, rat poison, pit-fall traps, or

10 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group homemade bombs (which the bears requires a CITES certificate of origin gall bladder trade is a principal factor bite). Once the bear is killed, whether for any parts to be legally transported impacting Asian bears. Furthermore, intentionally or incidentally, the parts across international borders; CITES passage of the bill would indicate are sold, even though this is officially certificates of origin are provided only that the magnitude of this issue has illegal in nearly all of Asia. with proof that the bear was legally persuaded the federal government of taken. the United States to override state laws What the bill will accomplish There are very few cases of Ameri- in order to obtain a unified position Presently, a variety of laws govern can black bear parts being legally on the trade in gallbladders. That may the sale of gall bladders and paws of exported to Asia. Moreover, since all send an important message to Asia American black bears. Five U.S. states legal exports are from hunter-harvest- about the U.S. commitment to deter allow hunters taking a bear in that ed bears, this trade has little impact the trade in bear parts. state to sell the gall bladder, and four of on the already well-managed popula- The problem is that the message, these states plus three others allow the tions of this species. The reason for for all its good intentions, may signify hunter to sell the paws. Another six the CITES Appendix II listing was to little to the countries where the trade states (three with healthy bear popula- require identification tags on these in bear parts is particularly problem- tions of their own) allow residents to parts, so they could be distinguished atic. Governments in Asia are already purchase gall bladders and paws from from those of Asiatic black bears. This cognizant that bear poaching is largely bears taken in other states (but not gives law enforcement personnel in related to the trade in bear parts, but that state), as long as there is docu- Asia greater power to make arrests, as most either deny that this poaching mentation that the kill was by a legal untagged gall bladders of Asiatic black is having a large effect, or recognize hunter. Four other states, all without bears could not be passed off as being the problem but cannot do anything bears, have no laws concerning the from legally-obtained American black about it. Most already have strict laws sale of bear gall bladders or paws, ef- bears. prohibiting the trade in bear parts, but fectively allowing such sales. This bill would prohibit all export are unable to enforce them (see Ap- Given that legal sales require legal of gallbladders from American black pendix II). take, and that hunters generally are bears. Given the low legal export and The context of the U.S. and Asian allowed to take only one bear per year, CITES regulations already in place, situations is so different as to be it seems inconceivable that hunters it appears to us that the bill would virtually incomparable, so leading could have much of a legal business provide minimal added conservation and following really make little sense. selling bear parts. Moreover, since benefit to Asian bears. American black bears are so numer- there are only five states that allow ous that the annual harvestable take the sale of these parts from their What the bill will not through legal hunting approaches the own hunted bears, it is only the bear accomplish total world population of Asiatic black populations in these states that are The stated purpose of the bill is to bears. Gall bladders have no value to potentially affected by any legal com- “conserve global bear populations.” most American citizens, so hunters mercial trade in these parts; all these The bill also mentions thousands of discard them in the woods. American states, however, have robust, stable or bears in China that are kept on farms black bear hunters tend to be middle increasing populations. Hence, the bill and milked for their bile. Whereas class people who hunt for recreation is likely to have little or no direct affect we agree that the protection of wild and for trophies. A law prohibiting on American black bear populations. Asian bears and elimination of bear trade in gall bladders would affect It is possible, though, that the illegal farming are noble goals, we believe only a small minority of Traditional trade in American black bear parts is that the bill will have little or no effect Chinese Medicine practitioners living facilitated to an extent by the varied on either. The bill is referred to as the in the U.S. In China, by contrast, there laws that allow some legal trade across “Bear Protection Act”, but will do little is a large demand for this product by state borders. In that sense, the bill to help bears in the places where they upper income people, while many des- may assist law enforcement agencies in genuinely need more protection. perately poor people live in rural areas catching and prosecuting bear poach- There is potentially some merit, occupied by bears. To those poor ers. though, in leading by example, even people, killing a bear and selling its The export of American black bear if the protective measures offered by parts, particularly a bear that has been parts to Asia has been regulated by the bill are not needed in the United damaging their few crops, can make a CITES since 1992, when the spe- States. Thus, although the bill does difference in how much food or medi- cies was listed in Appendix II due to not directly address the plight of cine they can buy or whether their similarity of appearance of their gall Asian bears, it provides evidence that family can afford small luxury items, bladders and paws to those of Appen- the United States recognizes that the like a television. Although both the dix I Asian bear species. This listing sale of parts and the killing of bears is

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 11 Bear Specialist Group forbidden (with a few exceptions), very gue that an exemption should be made cosmetics, sports drinks, and tooth- little enforcement of these laws occurs for scientific purposes, and further paste) may encourage more users. because there are too few enforce- that any permitting for such trans- Successes in restoring Ameri- ment personnel, and a general lack of port by scientists should be extremely can black bears and brown (grizzly) recognition that bears are declining. simple, as often the products need to bears of North America and parts of The U.S. model, where tens of thou- be shipped fresh (immediately after Europe have demonstrated that the sands of bears are harvested for sport, the bear dies, often when the death is key to bear conservation is reducing and a medicinal commodity routinely unanticipated). human-caused mortality and provid- discarded, simply does not apply to the ing sufficient habitat. Thus, in Asia, situation in Asia. What is really needed reduction in the trade in bear parts, We applaud the Congress of the combined with habitat protection, is Issues missing from the bill United States for the concern over essential. The situation for bears in The one potential benefit of this bill the trade in bear parts. Although our Asia is complicated by the fact that the is that it might deter some commer- testimony demonstrates that this bill, present level of information is so poor. cially-motivated bear poaching. If that as written, will have little or no actual Increasing complaints of bears raiding is the chief aim, then bear paws should effect on bear populations anywhere in cropfields gives the false perception to also be included in the ban. Paws are the world (though it might help deter government authorities that popula- not used in TCM, but are sought after some poaching within the U.S.), we tions are burgeoning, when in reality as a delicacy, and command a high think it provides an opportunity for this trend likely reflects diminishing price. Recent, large confiscations of greater discourse about bear conserva- habitat quality in the adjacent forest shipments of bear paws on their way tion. We thus view this as a positive and increasing human incursions with to China (from Russia and various step toward a more concerted effort to agriculture into the few areas of bear countries in Southeast Asia) are evi- address this issue in a more direct way. habitat that remain. dence of the demand for this product, Indeed, we hope that any publicity We believe there is time to act on and potentially devastating effects on arising from this bill uses the oppor- behalf of Asian bear conservation in a wild populations of Asian bears. tunity to highlight the true depth of meaningful way, and to reverse their Just as with gall bladders, the trade the problem, rather than credit the bill downward slide. Below we list the top in paws has little adverse effect on with solutions. Moreover, we hope priorities: populations of American black bears. that it generates a greater effort to find However, just as with gall bladders, real solutions. 1) Survey portions of the geographic there is a patchwork of state laws re- The situation for bears in Asia is range where the continued existence garding the sale of bear paws (because the opposite of that in the U.S. Habitat of bears is unknown. Although China most of these laws are archaic and did loss in Asia continues to be a concern comprises the largest area of range not recognize that this is an edible in many areas, although efforts are un- for Asiatic black bears, up to half of product). It is possible that some derway in some countries to reverse it. the assumed range in China may not poachers kill bears principally to sell Asiatic black bear hunting is forbidden even be occupied by bears (Appendix their paws. Therefore, it seems logical in most places, but poaching continues I). We recently learned that another that if the interstate sale of gall blad- to be widespread, fueled largely by the Asian bear species, the Sloth bear, ders is prohibited, that paws (but not demand for gall bladders and paws. may have disappeared recently from claws) be included as well. The situation is complicated by the Bangladesh; this loss was undetected The proposed bill includes all bear fact that bear bile has proven medici- by authorities because they have no viscera, not just the gall bladder. The nal benefits and a 3,000-year history knowledge of where bears actually reason for this is unclear, as other or- in TCM. The situation is further exist. These examples demonstrate gans have no commercial value. How- confounded by the farming of 12,000– the poor state of knowledge about ever, scientists are presently involved 13,000 bears in China and Vietnam, these species. It is not only important in a number of studies of these other where they are milked for their bile. to know where bears exist, but also to organs. Several of these studies relate Chinese authorities claim that this vast train local biologists on how to detect to bear physiology during hiberna- production of cheap bile diminishes bear presence, so changes in distribution, the understanding of which may the demand for more expensive bile tion can be readily ascertained. ultimately provide medical benefits to from wild bears, and thus reduces the humans. Organs are shipped to the killing of wild bears; opponents of bear 2) Obtain information on bear popula- few experts across the country. It ap- farms fear that increased accessibil- tion trends. Very little data are avail- pears that this bill prohibits the import ity to farmed bear bile (now in such able on population trends of any Asian or export of all bear viscera across surpluses that it is sold in non-TCM bears, but with few exceptions, present state lines without exception. We ar- products, such as shampoos, lotions, evidence indicates that most popula-

12 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group tions are declining: area and quality and being able to afford wild bile. A next, crucial step is increased funding of forested habitats are generally in rigorous study is needed to resolve this directed at the real issues, which occur decline, poaching levels remain high, important debate, because if the latter, in Asia. and knowledgeable local people typi- counter-argument were correct, it Our endorsement of the present bill cally indicate that poaching has caused would provide a conservation rationale is thus predicated on follow-up action, visible declines in bear numbers. One (not just an animal welfare rationale) specifically increased funding to ad- great hindrance to bear conservation, for closing these farms. Meanwhile, dress the pressing conservation issues though, is the reluctance of govern- thousands of bears reside on farms, in Asia that result from the trade in ment authorities in Asia to admit that many in inhumane conditions. A bear parts. If Congress only goes as populations are in decline. We believe non-governmental organization has far as to pass the present legislation, that there are ways to more effectively raised funds to house a few hundred thereby restricting the small-scale legal monitor population trends, and that if bears that have been removed from trade in gall bladders within the U.S., government authorities were provided some of the worst farms. Vietnamese then little real bear conservation will better data showing what are likely to and Chinese authorities are willing be accomplished. be alarming declines in bear numbers, to remove thousands more, but large more action would be taken, and such captive facilities are needed to house Concluding comments action could be directed at the areas them (because these bears would be Thank you for this opportunity to most in need. incapable of surviving in the wild). provide comments that will hopefully The scope of these issues is mas- forge a fruitful path toward effective sive, and the funding needed to conservation of the world’s bears. 3) Conduct direct, on-the ground con- address them is also therefore large. servation work on issues affecting bears Neither I, nor the organizations that Professional organizations like ours, I represent, intended through this in Asia. We see several potential ways and other conservation organizations, that Asian governments could improve testimony to give the impression that have not been able to raise sufficient we did not see value in the proposed conservation of bears. These include: funds to have much of an effect. For assistance with reducing human-bear Bear Protection Act. We only wanted example, the International Association to stress the issue that we thought conflicts (bears raiding crops and for Bear Research and Management damaging property); improved train- other testimony would likely miss: the is only able to provide small annual problem regarding the trade in bear ing, increased staff, and provision of grants, averaging ~$5,000 each, for better equipment for park guards and parts is much larger than can be dealt about 10–12 bear research and conser- with by simply strengthening the laws local authorities dealing with poach- vation projects worldwide. An order ers; better training for patrolling staffs regarding interstate trafficking of gall of magnitude larger source of funding bladders. Our organizations, com- of nature reserves for monitoring bear is needed, such as that provided by the occurrence and finding bear poaching posed of professional biologists, do Multinational Species Conservation not deal with enforcement, so we are activities; establishment of reserves Funds. These funds, allocated for the to protect bears in key areas where not in a position to comment on how conservation of African and Asian el- much such a bill would aid in the populations are small and disjunct; ephants, rhinos, tigers, great apes, and increased CITES enforcement staff to prosecution of poachers. Thus, we marine turtles, have been tremendous- restricted our comments to popula- thwart imports and exports of bear ly effective in reversing dire conditions parts; and increased education about tion-level effects on bears. By doing so for these imperiled species. we hope that we have not diminished the status of Asian bears and effects of Obviously there is a need for more the bile trade, provided through televi- what others might testify to in terms funding for conservation for a host of of the enhanced ability of enforcement sion programs, signs, school programs, other varied taxa, of which bears are and local community activities. personnel to stop bear poaching. Of just one. We restrict our argument course we support any measure that that bears should be a priority for cracks down on poachers. 4) Address the bear farming issue. The such funding to the simple point that Chinese government asserts that bile Had I been present to testify orally, Congress has overtly acknowledged and had I been asked whether, in produced on bear farms reduces the this priority through deliberation of demand for wild bile, and hence the my opinion, this bill should pass, I the Bear Protection Act. If the passage would certainly have said yes. But, I impetus to poach wild bears. The of that bill is to stand as an initial small counter-argument is that this large would have hastened to add — please step toward worldwide bear conserva- keep in mind that the issue is much quantity of relatively cheap bile and tion action administered by the U.S. the active promotion and marketing larger, and so this legislation should be government, and does so mainly by viewed as a beginning, not the end. of the sale of this bile entices more increasing awareness of the looming users, with some ultimately desiring issue of the gall bladder trade, then the

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 13 Bear Specialist Group

Bear Specialist Sun Bear Expert Team Co-chairs IBA Representative Group Gabriella Fredriksson Frank vanManen [email protected] [email protected] The Bear Specialist Group (BSG) is organized into species and topical Rob Steinmetz expert teams, each with two co-chairs. [email protected] Technical and scientific advisors These co-chairs, along with some John Seidensticker other specialists comprise the coor- [email protected] dinating committee, which is listed Sloth Bear Expert Team Co-chairs below. N.P.S. Chauhan Chuck Schwartz [email protected] [email protected]

BSG Co-chairs Shyamala Ratnayeke Michael Proctor Bruce McLellan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Dave Garshelis Giant Panda Expert Team Co-chairs Polar Bear Specialist Group Chair [email protected] Lü Zhi Andrew Derocher [email protected] [email protected]

European Brown Bear Expert Team Wang Dajun Co-chairs [email protected] Djuro Huber [email protected] Andean Bear Expert Team Co-chairs Jon Swenson Isaac Goldstein [email protected] [email protected]

Ximena Velez-Liendo North Asian Brown Bear Expert Team [email protected] Co-chairs Harry Reynolds [email protected] Trade in Bear Parts Expert Team Co- chairs Tsutomu Mano Chris Servheen [email protected] [email protected]

Chris Shepherd South Asian Brown Bear Expert Team [email protected] Co-chairs S. Sathyakumar [email protected] Captive Bears Expert Team Co-chairs Lydia Kolter Ozgun Emre Can [email protected] [email protected] Jackson Zee [email protected] © Joan Skidmore Asiatic Black Bear Expert Team Co- chairs Dave Garshelis Mexican Black Bear Coordinator [email protected] Diana Crider [email protected] Mei-hsiu Hwang [email protected]

14 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Eurasia are still to be found. There are hopes ology using hair traps was employed. Bears in Austria: an that an 8 year old bear Elsa, whose hair In 2006 a decision was made to con- Uncertain Future or scat were not found, is still alive duct systematic monitoring in alter- and that she had cubs this past winter. nate years over the entire park with the Brunela Visaggi Additionally, in 2006, evidence of the aim of reducing time and costs. Gruppo di Ricerca e Conservazione presence of 6 bears were found, of Samples collected during 2007 were dell’Orso Bruno which three were cubs. analysed and 23 different genotypes Brown Bear Research and Cons. The situation is Austria is very identified. There are likely some bears Group critical, despite the fact that across the that have gone undetected. There are Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta border in Slovakia the bear population 10 males, 12 females and one which Adamello Brenta Natural Park is increasing. Bears from Slovenia are the sex is unknown (it is a cub born in Via Nazionale, 24 – 38080 also known to cross into Austria but 2007). Two male offspring of a cap- Strembo TN are not included in the statistics of tive born bear Jurka and born in 2006 Phone: + 39 0465 806655/56 Austrian bears. Poaching may be the have been detected. The two males, Fax: + 39 0465 806699 (fax) reason for the decline of the species JJ3 and JJ5, settled in Switzerland and in Austria. While States members of Val Camonica (Brescia province) and the European Union are bound under a female, JJ4 was also identified in Au- In October of 1973, in Austria, a set the Habitat Directive (CEE, 92/43) gust in Val Genova (western Trentino). of tracks confirmed the presence of a to protect and conserve bears, nega- Another six young male bears are bear in the Ötscher region; a full 150 tive attitudes toward bears remain known to have moved long distances, years after the killing of the last bear the greatest challenge and obstacle in roaming into territories outside the known to be from the original Aus- implementing conservation efforts. province of Trento. In addition to JJ3 trian population. The tracks belonged and JJ5 another bear was identified to a 4-5 years old male named Ötscher roaming in Switzerland. Two other that migrated from Slovenia in search bears spent time in South-Tyrol along of a new territory. During the 1980s, Genetic Monitoring the border area between Val d’Ultimo Ötscher became the catalyst for a and Val di Non and another seems to reintroduction proposal. Ten years of Bears in Trentino, have settled in the area of Monte Baldo later a project was launched in concert Italy (2007) (Verona province). It is estimated that with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are likely 17 – 18 bears in the Austria and the University of Vienna Claudio Groff Trentino area. in Austria. Three bears were released: Provincia Autonoma di Trento Taking into account also the longest Mira (1989), Cilka (1992) and Djuro Servizio Foreste e Fauna movements carried out by young (1993). The bears were captured in Via Trener n. 3 males during 2007, the small bear Slovenia and Croatia and equipped 38100 Trento, Italy population in the central Alps is pres- with radio-collars for monitoring pur- Phone: +39 0461-494961 ently distributed on an area of about poses. In 1991, Mira had 3 cubs which Fax +39 0461-494972 7000 Km2, even if the zone occupied Ötscher probably fathered. In 1993, Email: [email protected] by females is much smaller (1100 km2) Mira had 3 more cubs from Ötscher and completely included in western while Cilka had 2 cubs from bears she Trentino. mated with before her capture and Using genetic techniques 23 bears Since 2002 13 different litters total- translocation. The birth of the cubs were detected in the province of ling 27 cubs have been recorded. In created optimistic expectations for the Trento and neighbouring regions over 2007 two litters were detected totalling prospects of bears in Austria. the past year. The genetic monitoring three cubs. Of the 23 identified bears, More than 18 years after the first of the local brown bear population is 9 are adults (7 females and 2 males), 11 release prospects are bleak. Only performed by the Forest and Wildlife are sub-adults (4 females and 7 males) two of the 35 bears identified over Service of the Autonomous Province and 3 are cubs (1 female, 1 male and 1 the years appear to remain. Genetic of Trento with the technical backing of undetermined). Sub-adult males range analysis of DNA extracted from hair National Wildlife Institute and support in age from 1-5 years and females 1-3 and scat were used to identify Djuro from Adamello Brenta Natural Park. years. who is 19 years old and his son Moritz Hair and fecal samples for genetic Since 2002, 4 bears are known to who is 7 years old. Researchers were analyses were primarily collected op- have died, one was captured and seven able to confirm the death of 9 of the portunistically in 2007 with the excep- have not been detected in the last 35 bears. Data providing clues to the tion of Adamello Brenta Natural Park two years. In 2006, for the first time fate of most of the remaining 24 bears where a systematic sampling method- since 2003, the average age of bears

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 15 Eurasia increased due to higher survival rates of cubs born in that year. Additionally, the total minimum number of bears detected was slightly larger in 2007 than 2006 (23 vs. 22). This, despite the low reproduction recorded last year (there were a low number of reproductive females in 2007). Although the total population still remains low, the general trend appears to be a population that is growing. However this growth is small and the status of the brown bear population is still of concern.

Monitoring the Status of Bears in Greece: The “Hel- lenic Bear Register” Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Miguel de Gabriel Hernando Lambros Krambokoukis Lazaros Georgiadis ARCTUROS 3 V. Hugo St. 54625 Thessaloniki, GREECE www.arcturos.gr

Brown bears are distributed in Greece over two disjunct populations. The larger population is located in the Pindos Mountains in the western part of the country and belongs to the Dinaric – Pindos population, while the smaller one is located in the Rodopi Figure 1: a) Map of Greece indicating the location of the 300 genetic sampling Mountains in the East and is a part of stations, in five different areas of the country, b) A telephone pole used as a the Rodopi – Rila population. Despite genetic sampling station. The pole was “chewed off” by marking bears at a more than two decades of efforts to height of approximately 210cm and fell (© M de Gabriel Hernando). protect the species, information on population status and trends, genetic brown bears in Greece (Karamanlidis diversity and movement patterns will enable Greece to implement an 2005). At the same time, genetic remains limited, thus preventing the informed and effective conservation research carried out in collabora- implementation of effective conserva- and management strategy that will tion with Dr. D. Paetkau at Wildlife tion actions at a nationwide level. secure the future of brown bears in the Genetics International, involving the In 2005, efforts were launched to country. screening of 21 potential microsatellite investigate the population and genetic The project is already in its third markers, identified seven highly vari- status of brown bears in the country. and final phase. The first phase of the able amongst them that are currently The project “Hellenic Bear Register” is project was carried out within the used for the individual identification a research initiative carried out by the framework of a doctoral thesis at the of bears in Greece. During the first Greek NGO ARCTUROS and aims at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, phase of the project, a pilot study collecting valuable scientific data that looking into the marking behavior of

16 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Eurasia carried out in the area of Grevena in areas in which brown bears have been Northern Greece, during which, 30 Challenges and absent for more than a century and power poles fitted with barbed wire Problems Arising people are totally unaware of its pres- were used as sampling stations for the ence and habits. A couple of months collection of genetic material, man- from the Range ago, a similar appearance in the area aged to identify 49 different bears. Expansion of Brown of Elasona, ended with the poaching The second phase of the project and subsequent mutilation of a bear was carried out in 2006 – 2007 and Bears in Greece by local shepherds who feared for involved the inspection of more than their livelihood. In order to prevent 4,500 power poles throughout the Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, such events and deal with the chal- species range in the country, in order Lambros Krambokoukis & lenges and problems arising from the to identify poles that were heavily used Dionysios Kantiros range expansion of the species in the by bears and that could eventually be ARCTUROS country, ARCTUROS has established suitable as genetic sampling stations. 3 V. Hugo St. a “Brown bear Emergency Response After intensive fieldwork, a network of 54625 Thessaloniki, GREECE Team”, which consists of two experi- 300 sampling stations in five different www.arcturos.gr enced biologists and is on call 24-7. core areas of the species within the western nucleus was established in Sightings of brown bears outside Literature Cited: August 2007 (Figure 1). Through the their range in Greece have been mak- Karamanlidis, A.A. 2006. 2005: A year analysis of hair samples collected during the headlines more and more often of mixed messages for the future of ing the pilot operation of the network recently (Karamanlidis 2006, 2007), brown bears in Greece. International in the autumn of 2007 the number of indicating an expansion of the range Bear News 15(1): 11. individual bears identified and cur- of the species within the country. The rently monitored by the “Hellenic Bear sighting however, that took place at Karamanlidis, A.A. 2007. Brown bears Register” project has risen to over 75! the beginning of this year, was beyond finding their way home. International Ongoing and future actions of the the wildest dreams of even the most Bear News 16(2): 12-13. third phase of the project include the optimistic bear conservationist. On intensive monitoring of the western the 12th of March, frightened resi- nucleus of the population in the coun- dents from the village of Melivoia, at try until the end of 2009, as well as the the foothills of Mt. Kissavos, reported establishment of a pilot monitoring the sighting of a young brown bear project in the eastern nucleus of the strolling along the road leading to species in the Rodopi Mountains. We their village. What first appeared to would like to express our gratitude to just be a prank, turned out to be true, the volunteers Sofia Bratsioti, Elena after members of the field team of the Ceron, Julien Dalvai, Jessie Jones-Mor- NGO ARCTUROS confirmed there ris and Charis Pilidis for their assis- were claw marks from the bear on tance in the field. the hood of a car that was “unlucky” enough to have startled the young Literature cited: bear. The village Melivoia is located Karamanlidis, A.A. 2005. Bears in approximately 1.5 km from the Aegean Greece: Cars and Power Poles. Inter- coast of Greece! This sighting is the national Bear News 14 (2): 22-23. latest in a series of similar sightings in the area and is at the same time the easternmost appearance of an individual from the western population nucleus of the bears in the country. Members of ARCTUROS informed the villagers on how to react in case of an encounter, but also what to do in © Katherine Norkin order to receive compensation in case of eventual crop or livestock damage. © Joan Skidmore These actions were deemed necessary, because the range expansion of the species has been occurring in

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 17 Eurasia Despite their importance and endan- Evaluating the sta- gered status, very little has been or is Zedrosser A., Dahle B., Swenson J.E., tus of brown bears currently being done, regarding the Gerstl N. 2001. Status and manage- study and management of brown bears ment of the brown bear in Europe. in Albania and FY- in both countries. As a result, our Ursus 12: 9-20. ROM knowledge over the status of the species is fragmented and still incomplete. Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Lazaros In order to reverse this situation, Georgiadis, a joint project was launched in the ARCTUROS spring of 2008 involving members Greece- Egnatia 3 V. Hugo St. of the NGOs ARCTUROS from highway: a growing 54625 Thessaloniki, GREECE Greece, MOLIKA from the FYROM, www.arcturos.gr Transborder Wildlife Association barrier or an adapta- & from Albania and the Norwegian tion phase for bears? Dr. Andreas Zedrosser, University of Life Sciences. The aims Norwegian University of Life Sciences of the project are to provide baseline Yorgos Mertzanis, PhD Biology Ås, NORWAY information on the status of the spe- NGO “CALLISTO” Wildlife & and University of Natural Resources cies, especially in the trans-boundary Nature Conservation Society and Applied Life Sciences areas of Greece, while strengthening 5, Nik. Foka st. Vienna, AUSTRIA at the same time cooperation among 54621 – Thessaloniki, Greece & the NGOs involved in the brown bear Email: [email protected] Ratko Savkovic, conservation in Albania, FYROM and MOLIKA Greece and preparing a trans-bound- Bitola, FYROM ary management plan for the species. Permeability of the 37 km highway & In order to collect basic information stretch of the Egnatia highway cutting Stavri Pllaha on the distribution, demographics, trough the Pindos bear population Transborder Wildlife Association population size and trends of brown has now started puzzling researchers. Korca, ALBANIA bears in both countries, field surveys Scheduled to be completed by Decem- will be carried out, during which, ber 2008, all mitigation structures with In Europe, brown bears have indirect signs of bear presence will be the exception of 2-3 wildlife under- disappeared from large parts of their collected. In addition, a new, non- passes and 2 green bridges (one to be original range due to habitat loss, frag- invasive study method using signs of negotiated with the constructors) are mentation, and degradation, and due presence on power poles will be used now in place. No less than 13 tunnels to human persecution. Especially in (Karamanlidis et al. 2007); this method (8.85 km), 11 bridges (viaducts) (2.64 the western and Mediterranean parts will allow also the establishment of a km) and 7 wildlife under/overpasses of Europe, brown bears survive mainly network of genetic sampling stations are mitigating about 32% of the 37km in small, fragmented populations that and the subsequent genetic study of highway stretch. are threatened with extinction. Bear the species in both areas. Despite the apparently satisfactory populations in Albania and the Former density and spatial sequence of the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia This project has received generous mitigation measures, telemetry data (FYROM) are of significant biological financial support from the Alertis fund (n=8,696 fixes) yielded from June to and genetic value, as they constitute for bear and nature conservation and December 2007, from 6 adult radio- the connecting populations between the International Bear Association and collared bears tend to show, at least the brown bear populations of Serbia, financial and logistic support from the during this monitoring period, an Croatia and Slovenia in the North and NGO ARCTUROS. We would like to growing barrier effect of the highway the endangered brown bear popula- express our utmost gratitude towards over bears spatial behaviour. In partic- tion in Greece. In Albania, the current John Beecham and Harry Reynolds for ular, telemetry data show that the 2+2 estimate of the bear population is their help in setting up the project. km wide buffer zone along the 37 km about 250 individuals; the species highway stretch has been completely has been steadily declining in the last Literature Cited: avoided by 2 out of 3 adult females of 20 years, and the current population Karamanlidis A.A., Youlatos, D., the sample, and it has been used by the size estimate is the lowest ever. In Sgardelis, S., Scouras, Z. 2007. Using 3 adult males mostly at night (average FYROM, the brown bear population sign at power poles to document pres- of 55.4% of total locations). is estimated to consist of fewer than ence of bears in Greece. Ursus 18(1): For all but one female bear (who 200 individuals (Zedrosser et al. 2001). 54-61. had cubs this winter), longest trav-

18 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Eurasia the university where I study. In the summer of 2003, I was hired as a field biologist for the GEF-II project of the Directory of Nature Conservation and National Parks (NCNP) in Camili-Art- vin (The first and only Biosphere Re- serve in Turkey for now). I have recorded many unusual incidents like bears gathering around hazelnut trees in a village, entering dwellings by breaking down walls, raiding beehives placed on an elevated platform by using a ladder, depredating calves in a barn, and many others. Then, I decided to work on this subject under the supervision of Dr. Can Bilgin at the Middle East Techni- cal University (METU). I realized that the situation that I described above as “something wrong” was called human- bear conflict. The year 2003 was one of the most unusual years ever recorded as far as eled distances within home ranges are Human-Brown Bear climate is concerned. Unusual snowfall located outside the highway buffer in April and very rainy days in July zone whereas total bear crossings of Conflict Research were observed in Camili. Villagers the highway (n=40, average =10) oc- and Projects in the told me that they had never seen a curred only for 4 bears of the sample brown bear before in July inside the during night hours by using mostly Kaçkar Mountains, village for the last 25 years. The recent tunnel natural overpasses and bridge escalations in human-bear interactions viaducts. Overall home range spatial Artvin, Northea- in northeastern Turkey have to our configuration versus highway align- stern Turkey concern caused increased human- ment appears unbalanced (asymmetri- caused bear mortality and bear-caused cal) for 5 bears of the sample. In one Huseyin Ambarli damage. Some funds are available case highway the barrier effect is even Biodiversity and Conservation Lab. from the Caucasian Critical Ecosystem more visible forming the western limit Department of Biology METU-Ankara Partnership Fund for northeastern of an adult male’s home range. 06531 part of Turkey but brown bears or Further data will be collected TURKEY wildlife conflicts are not priority to- through next fall, which will help us Tel: +90-312-2105045 pics. As a result limited research and validate several hypotheses dealing Fax: +90-312-2107976 conservation projects can be carried with the highway barrier effect and/or E-mail: [email protected] out in the area. permeability. Pressure is also on the My first small project aimed at constructors to build bear proof fences In 2001, I realized that there was documenting human-bear conflict and along the unmitigated parts of the “something wrong” between peop- monitoring of the brown bear popula- highway. le and brown bears in the Kaçkar tion in the province of Artvin, Turkey. Special thanks go to the field team Mountains. While I was mountain It was supported by the Wildlife Con- composed by: A. Giannakopoulos, climbing around high pastures and servation Society (WCS) and METU. C. Godes, Y.Iliopoulos, Y. Lazarou, talking with the local beekeepers there, The project was carried out in full A. Riegler, S. Riegler, Ath. Tragos, Y. they always complained about brown collaboration with the wildlife autho- Tsaknakis and of course to Dr. John bear damage and demonstrated their rities and local interest groups. For Beecham. local preventive measures like placing the first time in Turkey, in September beehives 20 meters above ground on a 2005, we fitted a wild brown bear with tree or wrapping metal sheets on the a radio collar. We have monitored the tree trunks. To study the subject, I male bear for the last three years. had to wait until 2003 because the site During the last two years, with is approximately 1200 km away from some gaps in the projects, small grants

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 19 Eurasia

planned for brown bears and chamois in 2009. Reducing wildlife damage is also planned through demonstration of the effectiveness of electric fences at several sites. Detailed information on home ranges, habitat use, spatial and temporal behavior of brown bears will be studied thanks to the use of GPS collars. I have been monitoring brown bears for 5 years and I will continue doing so for years. We will investigate possible mechanisms Bear Damage to Bee Keeping Hives for compensation and/or insurance for damage caused by wildlife. The project will also produce reports, press conferences, posters and a website to inform the public on matters related to wildlife. After 10 years of hunting bans, brown bears were opened specifically to trophy hunting in late 2007. Five brown bears that were supposedly problem bears were hunted after using bait (such as a mule carcass) in Artvin. Several more bears were also hunted in the Kastamonu and Kara- bük provinces with similar claims that the hunted bears were problem bears. Recent interviews with local people Radio Tracking Brown Bears in Turkey confirmed my opinion that only hunting companies gained from killing be- supported by the EU Youth Program Callisto’s project in Grevena. My stay ars since locals claimed no decline in in 2006 and by ALERTIS in 2007 were included some training and I observed damage, and perhaps even an increase used to engage in the education of the good work on wildlife passages in confrontations due to attraction of local children about wildlife, ecolo- during the construction of the Egnatia bears to previous bait sites. gy and wildlife damage avoidance. highway. Our research and projects try Public meetings were organized in ten After finishing my M. S at METU, to help locals, wildlife authorities, villages and county centers in 2007 I took part in preparing a project pro- researchers and the conservation of and pamphlets on bear facts were posal for the EC Program on Tropical bears. We also try to demonstrate how distributed. We also monitored the Forests and other Forests in Develo- people and wildlife can live together in behavior of “problem” bears by using ping Countries along with a consorti- the northeastern part of Turkey. camera traps. We recorded conflict um of interested NGOs. The proposal sites and informed the local authorities entitled “Kaçkar Mountains Sustainab- on previously unknown conflict sites le Forest Use and Conservation Pro- around garbage dumps. A total of ject” was awarded 2,100,000 € among approximately 300 local students were 385 other such proposals around the informed about ecology, wildlife and world. The consortium includes seve- conservation of brown bears in 2006 ral national and local environmental and 2007. Collaborating with other in- NGOs and government agencies along stitutions around the world helped me with our research group. An important gain valuable experience. For example, target of the project is to help develo- I have visited Greece in fall 2007 and ping effective wildlife conservation learned a lot from the Greek NGO policies. A model wildlife inventory is

20 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Eurasia that took place on the deccan plateau plant matter and groundnuts (Joshi et. Foraging for Dung can still be seen. al. 1997, Bargali et. al. 2004). They will Beetles: A Tasty The forests in and around the also eat carrion, and occasionally small Benekal Reserve are interspersed by mammals, amphibians or reptiles. Like Treat huge rocky granite outcrops, with other bear species but unlike other pockets of schist and gneiss and bands myrmecophagous mammals, they can Thomas Sharp of dolorite and quartzite. The geo- adapt their diet to changing food con- Kartick Satyanarayan graphical features of the area, specifi- ditions (Joshi et al. 1997). This ability Geeta Seshamani cally the boulders and caves, are used to adapt their diet to the surrounding Email: [email protected] by many wildlife species found in the area may be exaggerated in sloth bears area, including sloth bears (Melursus as they are found in a large variety of Within the thorny scrub, deciduous ursinus), leopards (Panthera pardus), habitat types which includes every- jungles of the state of Karnataka, in peninsular Indian wolves (Canis thing from scrub jungle to rainforest southern India, a visitor may occasion- lupus pallipes), jackals (Canis aureos), to wet evergreen forest to open prairie. ally notice within a disturbed forest stripped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena), Previous studies have documented floor a broken dark object; dung balls, Indian pangolins (Manis crassicau- that sloth bears eat longicorn beetles roughly the size of a baseball, lying data), and Indian porcupines (Hystrix and dung beetles (Bargali et al. 2004; cracked open in the recently dug dirt. indica), as well as a large variety of bird Baskaran et al. 1997), but none have But who, or what, is doing the crack- life, including the red-listed, yellow- documented specific foraging behavior ing, and why? throated bulbul (Pycnonotus xantho- associated with these beetles or their Wildlife SOS (WSOS) has been laemus). It is within these relatively larva. working to preserve sloth bear habitat dry, scrubby areas that an interesting Dung beetles are present through- that borders the Benekal Reserve For- foraging behavior by sloth bears upon out the sub-continent of India and can est. This land is not far from the first dung beetle larva has been noticed. be split into two basic groups based on sanctuary to have been declared for Sloth bears have a greatly varied their breeding behaviors: the “Tunnel- sloth bears in India, the Daroji Sloth diet, and although they are myr- ers” and the “Rollers.” The Tunnelers Bear Sanctuary, founded on July 10, mecophageous (specifically adapted to make tunnels directly under a dung 1994. The area is also near the famous feed on insects, especially termites and pat. The Rollers gather dung into a ruins of the Vijayanagar Kingdom, ants) they also feed on fruits, other ball, roll it to a new location, and lay where the scars of historical battles an egg in it. Some species of Rollers prop up the dung balls in vegetation, while other species bury them in the ground, roughly 10 cm deep. The species that bury the dung balls in the ground seem to be of particular interest to sloth bears. It turns out that these buried, larva- filled dung balls are quite the delicacy to sloth bears, who will actively for- age for them. Throughout the scrub forests of Karnataka, the unmistakable sloth bear sign --- the long, trailed dirt diggings and sloth bear prints --- will often contain a cracked-open dung ball (see photo). Exactly how the bears locate the dung balls under the earth is not known, though their keen sense of smell likely plays a role. Once the dung balls are located, the bears use their long, powerful claws to dig up them up. The ball is then cracked open and the contents eaten. Sloth Bear Sign: long, trailed dirt diggings and sloth bear prints How important dung beetle larvae are to the sloth bear’s diet is unknown. It would be particularly difficult to

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 21 Eurasia quantify in a formal study because the Asiatic black bears are distributed hunting reserve of Maharaja Harisingh soft tissue of these larva likely would through much of southern Asia and – the ruler of Kashmir. Dachigam is not be recognizable in bear scat. It India, in the forested mountain habi- now well known for its good popula- is also not known if the importance tats of northern India and in the hills tion of black bears and is also home of this food source varies with the of northeastern India. The potential of the last surviving population of seasons or other ecological cycles. black bear habitat in India is estimated Hangul or Kashmir Stag – the only sub Further research on this type of forag- to be approximately 270,000 km² with species of Red deer in India. Three ing behavior could provide additional an estimated population of about 6,000 short studies on black bears have been important information on sloth bear individuals. Apart from a few short carried out in the past in Dachigam ecology in these rocky deciduous investigations and status surveys, the National Park (NP), two on food habits scrub jungles. information on Asiatic black bears (Schaller, 1969; Manjeraker,1989) in India is scarce. Poaching for bear and one the distribution and density Literature Cited parts, black human-bear conflicts and (Saberwal,1989). The objectives of Bargali, H.S., N. Akhtar and N.P.S. habitat loss are increasing in most the current study are: (i) to assess the Chauhan. 2004. Feeding ecology of parts of the black bears’ range in India. human-bear conflicts and threats to sloth bears in a disturbed area in cen- The Kashmir Valley in the Jammu and black bears and their habitat in Dachi- tral India. Ursus 15(2):212-217 Kashmir State of India has become a gam NP; (ii) to evaluate whether the hot spot for human-bear conflicts. The distribution and relative abundance Baskaran, N. Sivaganesan, and J. persistence of the conflicts can be a of Asiatic black bears is influenced by Krishnamoorthy. 1997. Food habits of major problem for the local people and the availability of major plants found the sloth bear in Mudulamai Wildlife may undermine conservation efforts in Dachigam NP; and (iii) to evaluate Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, Southern of Asiatic black bears in this region. whether the daily, seasonal and annual India. Journal of Bombay Natural His- In light of that, the Wildlife Institute activity, habitat use, movement and tory Society 94(1):1-9 of India (WII), Dehradun has recently ranging patterns of Asiatic black bears initiated a research project on Asiatic in Dachigam NP is influenced by the Joshi, A. R., D. L. Garshelis, and J. L. black bears to understand the ecology, availability and distribution of plants D. Smith. 1997. Seasonal and habitat- behavior and sources of conflict. The used by black bears. related diets of sloth bears in Nepal. study is being carried out at Dachigam The survey of the study area was Journal of Mammology, 78(2): 584- National Park (141 km2) located in the carried out in May 2007 and an 597. Zanskar range of the Indian Himala- appropriate study design has been yas. developed. The study area has been Historically, Dachigam was the divided into 25 grids (2 km2 each) and Asiatic Black Bear in each grid has permanent vegetation plots and transects that are sampled Dachigam National twice a month for bear signs and food Park, Kashmir – A availability. Based on intensive field- New Research work from June to September 2007, 83 bears were sighted and 136 bear signs Initiative by the Wildlife Insti- recorded. The bear signs included tute of India scats (n=67), trails (n=4), feeding signs (n=34) including stone turns, digging, S. Sathyakumar, Ph.D. Ashraf, © J&K DWLP, Asiatic Black Bear: Dachigam bedding signs (n=31) and other signs Principal Investigator National Park (rake marks, rub signs). Bears and & their signs were mostly found in the Mr. Lalit Kumar Sharma lower part of Dachigam NP during & June and July; signs were patch dur- Ms. Samina Ameen Charoo, ing August and September when the Dept. of Endangered Species Manage- bears were mostly in riparian and oak ment habitats. Wildlife Institute of India Based on the information collected, PO Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun we have identified six black bear 248 001 habitats: riparian, low temperate, low Tel:+91-135-2640111 ext. 115 temperate pine mixed, oak forest, mid Email: [email protected] Bear Rake or Claw Mark on Tree temperate and grasslands. The availability of fruits of Prunus cerasifera,

22 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Eurasia P.prostata, P.armenica in June, nuts of We plan to continue bear sign and questionnaire surveys are being Juglans regia and acorns of Quercus surveys in different habitats and also carried out in villages around Dachi- robur during August and September estimate population size by using non- gam NP (Kashmir Central and South determined black bear distribu- invasive DNA sampling from hair. For Wildlife Divisions) to assess the cause tion and density in Dachigam NP. this, we plan to use baited hair snare of conflicts and threat to black bears Prunus spp. accounted for the great- traps along with camera traps in dif- and their habitat. est percentage of the black bear diet ferent grids of the study area following This four years research project during June and July; in August and mark-recapture sampling. We also is the first detailed investigation on September the availability of acorns of plan to use camera traps in different the ecology of Asiatic Black Bears in Quercus robur and nuts of Juglans re- habitats to understand the relative India. The use of modern tools such gia was greater in comparison to other density of bears and habitat occupancy as satellite telemetry will help under- species used by black bears. During patterns. Six black bears will be cap- stand better the bear ecology, hu- autumn, bear signs gradually declined tured using Aldrich-foot snares and man-bear conflicts and consequently until hibernation (December-Febru- fitted with GPS+VHF+ARGOS uplink inform conservation and management ary). During March 2008, bears have collars and monitored to understand measures, including suitable mitiga- started appearing in the study area and habitat use, activity and movement tion measures to reduce conflicts in conflicts with people are continuing. patterns. In addition to this, field the region.

Americas statewide management plan for black garbage issues through developing South Eastern bears in Florida that the FWC and its partnerships to bring wildlife resistant United States partners can work from in a unified garbage canisters to residents within and coherent manner. Team plans Carrabelle City limits. A partnership News from the South Eastern United are to develop conservation goals and with Defenders of Wildlife, Waste Pro, States provided by: strategies for the Florida black bear and FWC was established to purchase and have a draft document prepared several wildlife resistant containers Thomas H. Eason, Ph.D. by March 2008. and have them installed in early 2008. Conservation Initiatives Coordinator FWC staff continues to work on de- Additional meetings with Carrabelle Division of Habitat and Species Con- veloping efforts focused on minimiz- City officials and other partners are servation ing human/bear conflicts related with planned to expand this effort. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation garbage within the City of Carrabelle. FWC staff continued human-di- Commission FWC staff met previously with City mensions related work established in Bryant Building officials, wildlife resistant container FY 2005-2006, through further devel- 620 S. Meridian Street manufacturers, and waste removal opment of concepts for a statewide Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600, USA service providers to resolve residential survey of public perception and atti- Phone: +1 850-488-3831 Email: [email protected]

Florida Stephanie Simek Walt McCown

Bear Management Program The Florida Black Bear Standing Team (FBBST) wrote a draft “Florida Black Bear and Human/Bear Response Policy and Supplemental Guidance” document during December 2006. The FBBST was later disbanded and replaced by the Bear Action Team (BAT) in January 2007. The BAT team FWC Biologist Undergoing Aversive Conditioning Firearms plans to develop a comprehensive, Training at the July 2007 Workshop

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 23 Americas of a joint University of Tennessee/ University of Florida research project Population ecology of black bears in the Okefenokee Swamp-Osceola Ecosystem. Because such large area was burned, staff could not release the bears where they were captured. Four years of telemetry data revealed that she was caught within the home range delineated in the late 1990s. This information was used to select an unburned release site in good bear habitat near her home range. The sow and her cub were released on June 19th into the Big Gum Swamp Wilder- ness of Osceola N.F. within 5 miles of Bugaboo Fire Sow and Cub Released in her home range. Osceola National Forest on June 19, 2007

tudes towards bears. Funding through rent techniques. Staff plans to use the Bear Research Program Aletris Neils finished her field work a Conserve Wildlife Tag grant from remainder of the grant to purchase this past summer on the ecology of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, equipment for FWC LE Officers and black bears at the urban-wildland in- enabled FWC to contract Dr. Craig other FWC staff. terface of Ocala National Forest. She’s Miller at the University of Georgia for analyzing data and writing her thesis final survey development and imple- Bear Management and Research now, hoping to be finished by this mentation during FY 2007-2008. The Programs spring or summer. results of this survey are anticipated On Mother’s day May 13th, fire Kim Annis defended her thesis The to aid in the development of the draft fighters on private timber land in Impact of Translocation on Nuisance bear management plan. northern Florida found an injured bear Florida Black Bears at the University of FWC staff was able to contact an and her cub in the middle of an area Florida last summer. She left Florida outside individual with funds received burned by a wildfire. Drought condi- in early June to become the new from the Wildlife Foundation of tions had contributed to 100s of recent Grizzly Bear Conflict Management Florida Conserve Wildlife Tag Grants wildfires in Georgia and Florida, and Specialist in NW Montana with the to conduct an evaluation and data a large one called the Bugaboo Fire Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. analysis of the Bear Response Agent burned from Georgia’s Bugaboo Island Program. A draft report of the analysis in the Okefenokee National Wildlife of the program had been completed Refuge SW into Florida’s Pinhook Louisiana and a final report is due to come out Swamp in Osceola National Forest. in 2008. The results of report will aid The mother bear was at the foot, with Wetland Restoration Plan Benefits in review and ongoing efforts for the her cub at the top, of a 65-foot burned Black Bears Bear Response Agent Program. pine tree. Florida Fish and Wildlife Staff conducted several Aversive Conservation Commission biologists Dave Telesco Conditioning Workshops with funds captured both bears and brought them Black Bear Conservation Committee received from the Wildlife Founda- to the University of Florida’s Veteri- P.O. Box 80442 tion of Florida Conserve Wildlife Tag nary Medical Center for emergency Baton Rouge, LA 70898, USA Grants. The latest held in July 2007; treatment. Vets examined the bears Phone: +1 225-763-5457 where by the workshop was shortened and found that the sow had 3rd degree Email: [email protected] to a total of five 1 day long courses and burns on all 4 feet and the cub, while & had a total of 69 participants. Each dehydrated and lighter than normal, Maria Davidson workshop included hands on training was otherwise unharmed; neither one Louisiana Department of Wildlife and for FWC personnel including bear showed signs of lung damage. They Fisheries response agents and other partnering also found a green tattooed “215” 2000 Quail Drive law enforcement personnel in both on her lip. Upon checking the tattoo Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA bear behavior and non-lethal deter- number it was discovered that this Phone +1 225-765-2385 bear was caught in July 1996 as part Email: [email protected]

24 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Americas Louisiana. These maps identify large remnant forested blocks, occupied bear habitat, and delineate corridors to encourage bear movement between tracts. For conservation programs that encourage reforestation of unproduc- tive cropland (e.g., WRP), this means that applicants receive a higher ranking (making them more competitive for program acceptance) when they are located within priority areas of the HRPM. This landscape-scale effort has successfully focused the reforestation efforts of USDA Farm Bill programs, with over 57,723 ha of WRP and 90,014 ha of Conservation Reserve Program lands enrolled in the HRPM since 1993. The HRPM corridor was created with the expectation that bears would use it as a travel route from one large forest tract to another. It was an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise that bears would den and successfully produce 5 litters of cubs in these young forests. Those 2- to 6-year old WRP tracts look similar to fallow agricultural fields, as most of the tree seedlings have yet to grow above the surrounding vegetation. All dens were located within the high priority areas identified in the HRPM. These 5 litters on WRP tracts are just a small sample of what is happening in the A cooperative, landscape-scale that helps private landowners restore overall bear population and provides a plan to restore wetlands is directly non-productive croplands to wetlands. good indication of the success of this contributing to the restoration of the The restored wetlands contribute to cooperative habitat restoration plan. federally threatened Louisiana black improved flood protection, carbon To find out more about the Louisiana bear. As with most rare species, habi- banking, and water quality, as well as black bear and how to help support tat loss and fragmentation were the wildlife habitat for hundreds of spe- their recovery, visit the BBCC at www. primary causes for the bears’ decline. cies. bbcc.org. The Recovery Plan for the Louisi- In an effort to prioritize wetland ana black bear requires two viable restoration efforts, the Black Bear subpopulations connected by protect- Conservation Committee, Louisiana ed forest corridors. Since 90% of lands Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in the historic range of the Louisiana U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA black bear are privately owned, creat- Natural Resources Conservation Ser- ing these corridors presented a major vice and many others came together obstacle for bear recovery efforts. to produce the “Louisiana Black Bear Prior to the creation of the Wetland Habitat Restoration and Planning Reserve Program (WRP) in the 1990 Maps” (HRPM). The HRPM, reaching Farm Bill, there was no large-scale from the Arkansas/ Louisiana border © Joan Skidmore mechanism in place to create the for- to the Gulf of Mexico, encompasses est corridor necessary for delisting. approximately 1.4 million ha through- WRP is a voluntary easement program out the Mississippi delta portions of

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 25 Americas Louisiana Black Bear Studies the cooperation of many private removed from their winter dens with Update landowners, researchers at the ARB their cubs, has been shown to greatly completed the first of three years of reduce these movements and improve Danny Gammons & hair trapping in 2007, resulting in over reintroduction success. Because of Carrie Lowe 400 samples. Last summer also marked their limited mobility, cubs are thought The University of Tennessee the second year of data collection in to “anchor” the female in place at the Department of Forestry, Wildlife & the TRB, where approximately 1000 release site. February and March were Fisheries hair samples were collected. These busy months, as researchers located 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building will be subsampled and analyzed to radio-collared females in their dens Knoxville, TN 37996, USA identify individuals through DNA. in order to assess their reproductive Mark-recapture models will then be status. Bears found to have newborn Once found throughout Louisiana, used to update abundance and density cubs were then identified as candidates southern Mississippi, and east Texas, estimates of both populations. for the late-March translocation. In the Louisiana black bear (Ursus Researchers have also recently a multi-agency effort involving the americanus luteolus) was listed by finished another winter of den work Black Bear Conservation Committee, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the TRB. The bear population in Louisiana Department of Wildlife and (USFWS) as “threatened” under the the TRB is the largest of the three Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Endangered Species Act in 1992. naturally remaining populations of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, The designation was primarily a Louisiana black bears. This population and USDA Animal Damage Control, result of extensive habitat loss and has been the primary source of bears 7 females and their 12 cubs were fragmentation. The subspecies is for a reintroduction project. Females removed from their ground or tree currently limited to three isolated and their cubs are removed annually dens in the TRB and placed in artificial populations in Louisiana. As part of from their winter dens in the TRB and den boxes in the RRC. These bears the USFWS Recovery Plan, periodic released into an area known as the are currently being closely monitored viability assessment of the remaining Red River Complex (RRC), an area through ground telemetry. populations must be performed. of high quality bear habitat in east- The Louisiana reintroduction These data will help determine future central Louisiana that was previously appears to be proceeding well and management actions for the Louisiana unoccupied by bears. The goal of this provides another example of the black bear. project is to encourage movement successful application of the winter- The University of Tennessee and genetic exchange between the soft release technique. Survival rates and the U.S. Geological Survey are naturally occurring TRB and ARB of reintroduced bears have been conducting population dynamics populations of Louisiana black bears. similar to those of bears in the TRB studies of two of these remnant Historically, black bear and reproduction has also started to populations, one located in the reintroductions have not fared well. occur, indicating that a self-sustaining Tensas River Basin (TRB) in northeast Because of their strong homing population may soon be reachable. Louisiana and the second in the upper instinct, translocated bears often have Reproduction has occurred each year Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) in failed to remain in the release area since 2005 in the RRC, and at least 14 south-central Louisiana. Researchers or have suffered high mortality rates litters have been documented. Three have been busy collecting hair while attempting to return home. females have produced their second samples during the summer months However, the “winter-soft release” litter in the new area, and one bear using barbed wire hair traps. With technique, whereby females are even had a 5-cub litter in 2006! Now that the reintroduction program is in its 8th year (43 females with 94 cubs have been released so far), researchers from the University of Tennessee will use the survival and reproduction data to determine if the newly established population has become self-sustaining or if further reintroductions are needed. They will also be using similar data collected in the TRB to assess that population’s viability and ability to support future reintroductions, should they be deemed necessary.

26 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Americas and we promptly organised a rescue South America team and headed for ‘La Mana’. We confiscated the bear with help from TV show a poster on Andean bears, a the Environmental Police Force, in Environmental fact sheet, stickers and notebooks for order to avoid potential conflicts. children with activities related to An- Education Program Leonardo Arias M.D. carried out a dean bears were provided. When the thorough medical examination that “Fronti the Guaro children were done with the activities evidenced malnourishment and un- they were asked to do a drawing based derweight. INSERT Photo Bear Comes to Your on what they had learned. The bear, named ‘Celine’, was taken During the period the program was School” in Sierra de to the Santa Martha Rescue Centre carried out, 337 little boys, 283 little (2600m asl) where she was brought Portuguesa, Lara girls, 169 adolescents and 107 adults back to full health and subsequently for a total of 896 people attended in State, Venezuela rehabilitated to return to the wild 17 different occasions in the following during the following year. On the 28th Fátima Imarú Lameda Camacaro places: Agua negra, Salvaje, Saban- April 2007, she was transported to a Investigator, “Oso Andino” Project, ita, Páramo Abajo, Páramo Arriba, rehabilitation enclosure constructed Venezuela Zancudo, Cerro Hueso, Cerro Negro by the BBC ‘Serious Andes’ team in Art Centre La Estancia – Petróleos, Escalera, Cubiro, Campo Lindo, La the ‘Hacienda Yanahurco’ (3600 masl), Venezuela PDVSA. Reluciente, 1 Mayo y Quibor, in the Napo province. Here she was sub- Nacional Salta University – Argentina township of Jiménez y Andrés Eloy jected to a more intense rehabilitation E-mail: [email protected] Blanco in the Lara State, Venezuela. program whilst adapting to the altitude The communities above benefited and climatic conditions of the páramo “Fronti, the ‘Guaro’ bear” is a from the information provided on the (high altitude grassland) where she program of environmental education conservation of the Andean bear and would soon be released. promoting the conservation of the the cloud forest. Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in the high elevation area of the Lara State. Through this program, activities are organized that seek to increase the First Andean Bear interest in children and adults for this Tagged with GPS unique bear species found in South America. It is important to empha- Collar size that the Andean bear is in danger Armando Castellanos of extinction for different reasons, Rehabilitation went well and on Andean Bear Project Director including unregulated hunting, habitat the 18th of July, Celine was set to be Andean Bear Foundation, USA fragmentation and absence of knowl- released back into the wild. She was Fundacion Espíritu del Bosque edge that Andean bears even exist. to be transported to the release site Reina Victoria 17-37 Quito, Ecuador The program was carried out by helicopter, though unfortunately, Phone: +593 - 2 - 683647 between July and November 2007: plans had to be changed at the last Fax: +593 - 2 – 504452 schools, town halls, universities and minute due to unfavourable weather Email:armando@andeanbear,org cultural centers were visited and the conditions. We were forced to impro- Website:www.andeanbear.org following was carried out: 1) a talk vise, constructing a hammock using

on the Andean bear, including its blankets, PVC tubes and thick lace. On the 21st of February 2006 a biology, distribution, feeding habits, The dormant bear was placed in this female Andean Bear of approximately danger of extinction and conserva- modified hammock and transported 3 years of age was rescued from ‘Hos- tion of the species; 2) the display of on horseback to the release site. The teria Carlos Patricio’ in the suburbs of five posters providing the information journey from the rehabilitation en- ‘La Mana’ (1200m asl) in the Cotopaxi on the different topics discussed and closure to the release site lasted two province; a subtropical region south in some cases instead of the talk the hours. On arrival at the release site, west of the Ecuadorian capital, Quito. Nickelodeon TV show “Go Diego Go” we injected Celine with a reversing During her captivity at ‘Hosteria Car- was shown, where Diego and Dora agent to speed up her recovery from los Patricio’ (a guesthouse), she was the Explorer save Chito and Rita, two the tranquiliser, and before long she being exhibited to tourists and was Andean bear cubs looking for a tree calmly arose from her slumber and being fed only with the leftovers. in the cloud forest. At the end of the walked towards the forest where she Immediate action was necessary,

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 27 Americas disappeared from sight. body, and emphasize the importance Prior to release, Celine was fitted Chapter 9: of reaching out the local needs on any with a GPS collar (model Quantum Spectacled bear conservation action. 5000, Telemetry Solutions). She was to be the first ever Andean bear to be Conservation Literature Cited fitted with such device. The collar’s Action Plan 1. Servheen, C., H. Herrero, B. Peyton, lifespan was set to two years during and I.S.B.a.P.B.S. Groups, eds. Bears: which it will provide us with vital data Translated to Status Survey and Conservation Ac- to evaluate her adaptation to the native tion Plan. 1999, IUCN: Gland. X + 306. bear population of the release area Spanish. (Yanahurco). Hopefully, Celine will be Shaenandhoa García-Rangel 2. Sandoval, S., L. Secada, M. Rodrí- the first of many other Andean bears Wildlife Research Group guez, D. Monsalve, and I. Goldstein, to be tagged with GPS collars, in order University of Cambridge Plan de Acción para la Conservación to better understand bear ecology and Email: [email protected] del Oso de Anteojos. Translate from to evaluate the ‘success’ of our reintro- Spectacled Bear Conservation Action duction initiatives. Dear all, I am pleased to inform you Plan, A. Bracho, Editor. 2008. p. 52. all that the Spanish version of the An- dean bear chapter of the Bears: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan [1] is finally available at: http://oso. shroom.net/docs/Capitulo9.zip This initiative was conceived during the Riobamba, Ecuador meeting in 2000, where 30 experts from each The whole release procedure was of the range countries agreed that filmed for a new Australian TV show, the lack of a Spanish version made Erratum ‘Extinction Sucks’. The show illus- it difficult to distribute among local Shaenandhoa García-Rangel trates our efforts here in Ecuador to communities and conservation practi- Wildlife Research Group ensure the conservation and protec- tioners [2]. The process started on the University of Cambridge tion of Andean bears. following year, but faced many difficul- Email: [email protected] The Andean Bear Project would ties the made impossible its prompt like to express their outmost gratitude publication [2]. The project finally Action Plan for Andean-bear con- to the Cobos Abdo family, of Quito, reached its end this February thanks to servation in Venezuela (2006-2016): Ecuador, for the great financial and a group of colleagues leaded by Andres Executive summary. International Bear moral support they have provided Eloy Bracho [2]. News 2007 16 (4): 18-22. during this rehabilitation and release In name of the overall Andean bear process. Without them this process community I would like to congratu- The following author should be in- would not have been possible. late and give a big Thank You to every- cluded among the existing list: Ada Sánchez-Mercado. Laboratorio de Ecología y Genética de Poblaciones, Centro de Ecología, Instituto Vene- zolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC). [email protected]

Acknowledgements The production of the Action Plan was sponsored by Larfarge-WWF Canada, the Houston Zoo-Fundación Andí- gena, Fundación para la Defensa de la Naturaleza, Universidad Simón Bolívar and Red Tremarctos.

28 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Are you an IBA Student? Then you need to belong to the Student Forum List Serve

• For students only • Discussions pertaining to bear biology, management, or study design challenges • Assistance with proposals and study design through IBA professionals • Job searches, announcements, information regarding the IBA and student membership • Planning for IBA student activities and meetings • IBA membership is encouraged, but not required for initial sign-up

New IBA Students - Sign Up For Instructions Student List Serve (Truman) • Visit: www.bearbiology.com/iba/stu.html Now! • Follow links to request an invitation • If you’re a new member, please submit a paragraph about your project and include your contact information so we can all get to know you.

Other Important IBA Student Links • www.bearbiology.com • Global Bear Research Program Links page — http://www.bearkeepers.net/GraduatePrograms.htm

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 29 Student Forum to request an invitation or read how it use of seasonal water holes. She is Student Forum works. There are a few more options working with several local villages and with Google Groups than the TAMU the regional government so the social Brian Scheick server, and we think that it will work component is interesting as well. I met IBA Student Coordinator well. Robyn in Monterrey and like most Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation graduate students; she has a long list of Commission ideas to investigate. Keep your eye on 1526 Kelvin Ave. Student Spotlight her; I think she will have some great Deltona, FL 32738-5002, USA The student spotlight shines on information to present at future IBA Phone: +1 386-789-7063 Robyn Appleton this month. She is conferences. Email: [email protected] a prospective Ph.D. candidate from British Columbia, Canada working on Spectacled Bears in the tropical dry forests of northern Peru. If you Truman update missed it, she gave a great presenta- Truman completed his move to tion in Monterrey, Mexico on her Google Groups just after the IBN’s preliminary work at seasonal water February deadline. All members were holes. She found a neat study area moved over from the TAMU server where the bears were not shy and and several new members were added allowed for close observation. She so Truman has now 55 active mem- plans to use direct observation as bers with 132 total on the list. Visit well as radio-telemetry, cameras and www.bearbiology.com/iba/stu.html to genetic sampling to investigate several © Joan Skidmore read about Truman and follow links population characteristics including

Bears in Culture Historically, black bears appear to find was made at the Blasky Mounds Bear Tooth Orna- have been most numerous in eastern (32WA1) in 1935. The site is located ments from the portion of the state, approaching the on the Forest River, in Walsh County, wooded floodplain of the Red River North Dakota. It is approximately six Blasky Mounds in of the North. Alexander Henry the kilometers west of the Campbell beach North Dakota (USA) Younger noted the presence of many ridge bordering Glacial Lake Agassiz. black bears in his fur trade journal. In The glacial lake drained thousands of September 1800, he wrote … years before these and other burial David Mather “Bears make prodigious ravages mounds were built around its perim- National Register Archaeologist in the brush and willows; the plum eter. The prominent ridges were (and Minnesota Historical Society trees are torn to pieces, and every tree are) prominent landscape features. Email: [email protected] that bears fruit has shared the same The flat bottom of the former lake fate; the tops of the oaks are also very created the wandering course of the The state of North Dakota lies roughly handled, broken and torn Red River, winding northward toward near the northern edge of the Ameri- down, to get the acorns. The havoc Hudson Bay. can Great Plains. It is bisected by they commit is astonishing; their dung Four bear canine ornaments were the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark lies about in the woods as plentiful as recovered from Mound 1 at the Blasky first encountered grizzly bears in the that of the buffalo in the meadow.” site. They were found singly among central part, west of the present-day the human bones. Bison bones, includ- capital, Bismarck. The original range In November 1804, Henry notes, ing teeth and jaws were also found in of both grizzly and American black “My tame bear is making a hole to take that mound. A large concentration of bears appears to encompass the entire up his winter quarters in.” bison bone was found in Mound 2, state. The grizzlies were extirpated by with other human burials. The age of the 1890s, and black bears were rare Earlier records of the black bear are the Blasky Mounds is not clear. It is by the early 20th century. Occasional found in archaeological sites, not far estimated that they were built dur- black bears are seen in the state today. from Henry’s Pembina fur post. One ing the Late Woodland Tradition, an

30 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Bears in Culture archaeological period ranging from rather than grizzlies. The roots of the has one hole in the side, and one in a approximately 500 AD until around teeth are closed, indicating that they cut surface of the root. The location the time of European contact, possibly were from fully-grown bears. Two of of these holes, particularly in the first into the 17th or 18th centuries. the teeth appear to correlate. They two examples, suggests to me that the The trait of these mounds that the are the same size and have the same ornament would have been sewn on excavators found most diagnostic curvature, in opposite directions. I to a piece of clothing or jewelry, or was the burial mode of the human suspect that they are from the lower perhaps another object. I am obviously skeletons. They were bundle burials, jaw of one bear. The other two canines speculating here. Whatever the teeth meaning that the bodies had originally do not conform in size or morphology. were attached to has not survived in been exposed on scaffolds or in trees. Therefore, it seems likely that these the archaeological record. All that After decomposition, selected bones four teeth represent a minimum of can be said for sure is that if the teeth were gathered and bundled (usually three black bears. were pendants, they would have hung the longbones and the skull). The I had previously read of these orna- sideways on the string. bundle was then transported to the ments in the archaeological literature. The fourth tooth supports, I site of the mound. Groups of bundles Three of the teeth have holes drilled believe, the interpretation that the often appear to have been buried at through. One has a groove around the ornaments were sewn on to something once, as an earthwork was built. It top. I had assumed that they were pen- else, rather than strung as pendants. appears likely that most mounds were dants, but I was surprised in the lab This tooth has a shallow groove near built in the early summer, when large to see that the modifications do not the base of the root. It is deep enough groups of people could congregate for support that theory. The ornaments to hold a thin string, but it does not go communal hunting and ceremonies. are illustrated in the accompanying all the way around the tooth. It only I recently examined the bear tooth photographs. extends over three faces of the root, ornaments from Mound 1. Because For a pendant to hang downward, with the one flat surface unmodified. If they were excavated from a burial site, the hole would be drilled straight the tooth was strung as a pendant us- they will be reburied with the human through the tooth. This type of orna- ing this groove, I suspect that the cord remains. A group of archaeologists ment is often seen in archaeological would easily slip off. and American Indian leaders is cur- contexts. The Blasky bear teeth, how- To conclude with more speculation, rently working to create final records ever, are drilled in a different manner. I wonder if the bear tooth ornaments of the artifacts and human remains, In two specimens, the two holes are were attached to the bundles them- and reviewing the site data. on one side of the tooth, with a chan- selves, which probably would have The four teeth are relatively small. nel connecting them for the cord to been made of birchbark or leather. They are clearly from black bears, pass through. The third drilled tooth With secondary burials, any original jewelry or clothing probably would not have survived to be gathered and transported with the bundles. Obvi- ously, it is impossible to be sure. The bear teeth of the Blasky Mounds do tell us something about the historical extent of black bear range. They also may highlight an otherwise invisible aspect of ancient mortuary ritual.

Four Bear Canine Ornaments Recovered from Mound 1 Blasky Site © Djuro Huber

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 31 Publications Ursus Volume 19(1) 2008 Population Biology

Estimating reproductive rates for Suspended baits: Can they help Perspectives, Essays, and Re- female bears: Proportions versus hunters distinguish male from views transition probabilities · Charles C. female American black bears? · Schwartz and Gary C. White Martyn E. Obbard, Bruce A. Pond, Using fatty acid signatures to study Anita Schenk, Ron Black, Michael bear foraging: Technical Mark–resight density estimation for N. Hall, and Brian Jackson considerations and future American black bears in Hoopa, applications · Gregory Thiemann California · Sean M. Matthews, Human Dimensions Richard T. Golightly, and J. Mark Short Communications Higley Safety education in bear country: Are people getting the message? · Wil Observations of mixed-aged litters Management liam C. Dunn, James H. Elwell, and in brown bears · Jon E. Swenson Gail Tunberg and Mark A. Haroldson A multidimensional approach to managing the European brown bear Backpacker use of bear-resistant Notes on Asiatic black bears denning in Croatia · Djuro Huber, Josip canisters and lockers at Sequoia and habits in the Misaka Mountains, Kusak, Aleksandra Majić-Skrbinšek, Kings Canyon National Parks · central Japan · Shinsuke Koike and Dario Majnarić, and Magda Sindičić Rachel Mazur Toshihiro Hazumi

An apparent hybrid wild bear from Cambodia · Gary J. Galbreath, Matt Hunt, Tom Clements, and Lisette P. Waits ______

marsicanus) and preliminary notes Taylor, M.K., Laake, J., Mcloughlin, May 2008 Recent on the relationships with other P.D., Cluff, H.D., Born, E.W., Bear Literature southern European populations. Rosing-Asvid, A., Messier, F. 2008. Italian Journal of Zoology 75(1):67- Population parameters and harvest Richard B. Harris 75 risks for polar bears (Ursus Ursus Editor maritimus) of Kane Basin, 218 Evans Pastor, J.F., Barbosa, M., De Paz, Canada and Greenland. Polar Missoula, Montana USA 59801 F. J. 2008. Morphological study of Biology 31(4):491-499 Email: [email protected] the lingual papillae of the giant & panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) by Zachosa, F.E., Ottoa, M, Unicib, R., Tanya Rosen scanning electron microscopy. Lorenzinic, R., Hartla, G.B., 2008. P.O. Box 1404 Journal of Anatomy 212(2):99-105 Evidence of a phylogeographic Ennis, Montana 59729 break in the Romanian brown bear Email: [email protected] Rondinini C, Boitani, L. 2007. (Ursus arctos) population from Systematic Conservation Planning the Carpathians. Mammalian Bischof, R., Fujita, R., Zedrosser, A., and the Cost of Tackling Biology 73(2):93-101 Söderberg, A., Swenson, J.E. 2008. Conservation Conflicts with Large Hunting Patterns, Ban on Baiting, Carnivores in Italy. Conservation and Harvest Demographics of Biology 21(6):1455-1462 Brown Bears in Sweden. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(1):79-88 Shepherd, C.S., Nijman, V. 2008. The trade in bear parts from Myanmar: Loy, A., Genovesi, P., Galfo, M., an illustration of the ineffective Jacobone, M.G., Vigna Taglianti, A. ness of enforcement of international 2008. Cranial morphometrics of the wildlife trade regulations. Biodiver © Joan Skidmore Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos sity and Conservation 17(1): 35-42

32 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Communications Chris Servheen Received the Chicago Zoological Society Conservation Award BROOKFIELD, Ill. - Chris grizzly bear sub-committees for fed- Servheen, mammologist and wildlife eral, state, and private participants, as biologist at the University of Montana well as conferences on private land- and grizzly bear recovery coordinator owner initiatives in conserving bear for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, habitat, and serving as an advisor to will receive the 2008 George B. Rabb many state and federal land manage- Conservation Award Jan. 29 from the ment agencies. Chicago Zoological Society. He has advised many private and The following evening Servheen public sector conservation initiatives, will present a lecture entitled “Grizzly agencies and conservation groups in- Conservation” at the Brookfield Zoo’s cluding Vital Ground and The Nature Discovery Center. The CZS manages Conservancy. the zoo. Servheen recently was recognized Servheen is being recognized for his with the Department of the Interior*s 30 years of significant work in griz- Meritorious Service Award, the sec- zly bear conservation efforts centered ond-highest award presented by the primarily in the Misson Mountains department. and northwestern Montana wilderness The George B. Rabb Conservation areas. Award was created in 2005 by the His major research has been board of trustees of CZS to honor the © Joan Skidmore instrumental in grizzly bear conserva- lifelong legacy of animal welfare and tion and is directly applicable to the worldwide conservation leadership of recovery of large carnivore popula- Rabb, president emeritus of the Chi- tions requiring large areas of natural cago Zoological Society. habitat in regions where those areas have significantly dwindled. >>> Mark Ratledge 1/24/2008 10:34 AM >>> greatly to bear conservation in the http: //missoulian.com/arti- lower 48 states, organizing interagency cles/2008/01/17/bnews/br24.txt ______

Memorial to fondly remembered by everyone who ters Julie Edwards, and Jeanne Canal; had the good fortune to work with 5 nieces, 3 nephews, and of course the Judith S. Smith her. The area’s excesses of mosqui- bears that were so much a part of who toes, ticks, heat, lightning, traffic, and she was. Donations in her name can We were saddened to hear the snowbirds were trifles compared to the be sent to the Suncoast Animal League news that Judith S. Smith, a former conservation needs of the animals and at 1030 Pennsylvania Ave, Palm Har- technician and graduate research as- landscape that she came to know so bor, FL 34683. sistant on the Greater Chassahowitzka well. Judy endured nauseating telem- Ecosystem Black Bear Study in west etry flights and broken down Broncos This was written by her former central Florida, passed away following with aplomb and good humor. She professor a motorcycle crash near New Orleans was an excellent student who, upon on 28 March 2008. Judy was the first earning her Master of Science degree David S. Maehr in a line of 3 University of Kentucky returned to environmental consulting Professor, Conservation Biology graduate students who helped describe in the Tampa Bay area with a renewed University of Kentucky the spatial, behavioral and genetic pro- sense of the challenges facing biodi- Department of Forestry file of what may be the smallest bear versity in Florida and elsewhere. She 205 Cooper Bldg. population in the world. Her passion is survived by her mother Joyce M. Lexington, KY 40546-0073 for field work and for her bears will be Smith; brother James F. Smith II; sis-

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 33 Events of Minnesota’s famous 10,000 lakes. 10th Western Black 20th Eastern Black The 20th EBBW will be a work- Bear Workshop Bear Workshop – ing session designed for biologists involved with bear population man- In response to requests from some Hold these dates! agement and monitoring. The exact IBA members the 10th Western Black program has yet to be finalized, but Bear Workshop will include a per- Dates: April 26-29, 2009 sessions will focus on regional trends centage of presentations on western in bear demographics and use of Location: Ruttgers Sugar Lake Lodge- brown bear topics in addition to black demographic tools, including popula- Grand Rapids, Minnesota bear. Other suggestions for workshop tion reconstruction, in management. agenda items include aversive con- Participants will be asked to bring ditioning, bear capture and handling Room rate: $72 per room for single or relevant data from their state for use in double occupancy for beginners, bear human conflicts workshop sessions.

(probably the workshop theme) and The schedule will include two days Registration fee: Not yet determined; how to get your work published. We of working sessions, followed by post- would appreciate your comments on available by summer. workshop facilitated or independent these ideas or suggestions for others. field trips. The dates will be May 18-21, 2009 Nearest Airport: Duluth (85 miles) or Watch for details in coming issues Hibbing, MN (40 miles) for connect- in Reno, Nevada. The web page and of International Bear News and at other pertinent information will be ing flights through Minneapolis and www.bearbiology.com. Detroit. Shuttle service available. in place by spring 2008. Start think- ing about how you would like to be Contact involved and topics you would like to The 20th Eastern Black Bear Karen Noyce, ([email protected]. discuss. Workshop (EBBW) will be hosted mn.us), jointly in April 2009 by the Minnesota (218) 327-4133 Please send all correspondence to Department of Natural Resources, or Carl Lackey - Nevada Department of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Dave Garshelis (dave.garshelis@dnr. Wildlife at [email protected] Resources, and the Manitoba Ministry state.mn.us) or [email protected] or 1+775-720- of Natural Resources. The workshop (218) 327-4146 6130. will be held in north-central Min- nesota, near the Chippewa National Forest Wildlife Populations and Re- Forest and the upper stretches of the search Group Mississippi River, in Itasca County, the 1201 East Highway 2 county that alone boasts of nearly 1000 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 ______

34 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Events

Segundo Simposio Internacional sobre el Oso Andino

Second International Symposium on the Andean Bear Organizers and Supporters Lima, Perú (as April 05,2008) November, 10-12, 2008 Symposium Venue The symposium will be held at the For more information, go to: www. • Andean Bear SSP (AZA) bearbiology.com campus of the Universidad Peruana • Asociación Latinoamericana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. Announcement and Call for More information will be soon posted de Parques Zoológicos y Acuarios on the symposium website Papers Twenty years have passed since the (ALPZA) First International Symposium on the • Bear Specialist Group (BSG/ Spectacled Bear was held in Chicago. Websites and Symposium Up- SSC/IUCN) The first symposium became an dates important source of information about • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo All the information about the bear research and conservation both in symposium, registration, paper situ and ex situ, and was an important • EcoCiencia submission and travel grants forms platform upon which many produc- • International Association on will be available through the sym- tive alliances for bear conservation posium webpage that will be avail- were made. Those partnerships and Bear Research and Management able at www.bearbiology.com and collaborations generated much of the RED TREMARCTOS at http://oso. (IBA) new information now available on the shrtoom.net websites beginning May Andean bear. A second symposium • Koeln Zoo 15, 2008. will enable the gathering and synthesis of previously collected information, • ProVita the assessment of current informa- • RED TREMARCTOS tion and conservation needs, and the development of new collaborations • San Diego Zoo and partnerships for Andean bear conservation both in situ and ex situ. We, • Spectacled Bear EEP (EAZA) the organizers and supporters of the • Universidad Peruana Cayetano Second International Symposium on the Andean bear, invite all the people Heredia interested in the research and conser- • Wildlife Conservation Society vation of the Andean bear to par- ticipate at this event to be held at the • World Association of Zoos and campus of the Universidad Peruana Aquaria (WAZA) Cayetano Heredia at Lima, Peru. • WWF Colombia

• Zoológico de Huachipa

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 35 Events

Proposed Activities An Andean bear symposium held in the southern Andean region will draw participants from both within and outside South America. This will address the interests and needs of all participants, including those working with wild bear populations and captive bears. Oral presenters will have to submit abstracts and, if chosen to present, will be expected to provide manuscripts of their presentations; summaries will be evaluated by the Proceedings Committee for scientific merit and relevance. The schedule will include plenary sessions for oral presentations in the morning and early afternoon each day, followed by concurrent workshops focused on topics of interest to different groups. Invited speakers will facilitate discussions and workshops. Possible workshop topics include: new methodologies in bear research, con- Call For Papers Papers on all aspects of Andean servation of fragmented populations, bear biology, conservation, and man- new management practices for wild agement both in situ and ex situ are populations. Evenings will have open now being accepted. Resumes and schedules to encourage informal com- full papers can be submitted to: Alicia munication among participants, and to Kuroiwa ([email protected]). foster new projects and alliances. Workshops and Meetings Authors must submit summaries, not Six workshops will be held dur- abstracts, of their proposed presenta- ing the 3 day symposium. We invite tions. Summaries must be typed on proposed workshop topics of interest. Spanish or English, be no longer than Persons or professional groups who 2 pages (single spaced, times new wish to schedule meetings during roman 12), and include name, institu- the symposium please contact Alicia tional affiliations, address, and email Kuroiwa at [email protected] before of principal author. Please see sample September 01, 2008. at www.bearbiology.com. Summaries of proposed full length papers to be published at the Symposium Proceed- ings will be first choice. Travel Grants Summaries are due by August 15, Limited travel grants will be avail- 2008. Authors will be notified of ac- able to assist with transportation, ceptance or rejection by September 15, food and lodging costs. Persons with 2008. accepted presentations from Latin American countries will have the first priority.

For more information contact: Isaac Goldstein [email protected] or Alicia Kuroiwa [email protected]

36 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 Events 9th Mountain Lion Workshop

The 9th Mountain Lion Workshop, Canada, Mexico and Central America Information can be found on Idaho’s hosted by Idaho Game and Fish is expected. workshop website at: Department, will be held May 5-8, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/ 2008 in Sun Valley, Idaho. This The conference will be held at hunt/lion/workshop/default.cfm year’s workshop is featuring the 40th Sun Valley, Idaho, a resort well known or contact: year anniversary of the landmark for its picturesque and rugged mountain lion research conducted by location, quality outdoor activities, Rich Beausoleil Maurice Hornocker in the central and 5 star resort facilities. Bear/Cougar Specialist Idaho Wilderness. As usual, a good Lodging costs have been negotiated Washington Dept. Fish and Wildlife turnout of managers, researchers, with Sun Valley for rooms and 3515 State Highway 97A students, and others involved in facilities so folks on a budget will be Wenatchee, WA 98801, USA mountain lion work in the U.S., able to afford to stay at the Phone: +1 509-664-1227 resort. Email: [email protected]

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 37 Kaçkar Mountains, Artvin, Northeastern Turkey Photo Courtesy of Huseyin Ambarli

38 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 IBA Membership Application Please Complete Both Sides of Form. Mail or Fax to Address Below. Name______Affiliation______Address______City______State/Province______ZIP+4 or Postal Code______Country______Telephone______Fax______Email______ New  Renewal  Address Change  You may share my membership information with similar organizations. MEMBERSHIP  Standard Membership US$50.00/year, US$45.00/year for three or more years. Includes International Bear News & Ursus. # Years_____ US$______ Please donate my copy of Ursus to a library or deserving recipient.  Institutional Membership US$100.00/year, US$250.00/three years. # Years_____ US$______ For those who cannot afford a Standard Membership, US$25.00/year. Includes International Bear News. If needed, a free copy of Ursus may be requested. # Years_____ US$______ Please send Ursus. I have no access to it, need it & cannot afford Standard Membership.  Donation (if possible!) included to help defray costs of sending Ursus. US$______GIFTS & CONTRIBUTIONS  Gift Standard Membership US$50/year, US$45/year for three or more years. Includes International Bear News & Ursus. # Years_____ US$______ Gift Institutional Membership US$100/year or US$250/three years. # Years_____ US$______ Gift Low-cost Membership US$25/year. Includes International Bear News, not Ursus. # Years_____ US$______Gift Membership for: ______ ______IBA Please Choose a Deserving Gift Recipient.  Tax Deductible Contribution to IBA General Fund. US$______ Tax Deductible Contribution to IBA Bear Conservation Fund. US$______

TOTAL AMOUNT US$______ Check or Money Order in US$ payable to IBA  MasterCard  VISA Cardholder Name______

Card #______

(government cards include customer #) ______

Signature ______Expiration Date______™ SEND TO: Joseph Clark, IBA Secretary USGS-SAFL, University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Hall, Knoxville TN 37996, USA

Fax: +1 865-974-3555 or Email: [email protected] Download both www.bearbiology.com. at form! of form sides Please complete OFFICE USE ONLY

Date Received______Amount Received______Start Issue______End Issue______Date Entered DB______

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 39 IBA Member Application, page 2 Please Complete Information on Both Sides of this Form! Please check columns in which you have expertise and/or are willing to assist / advise IBA 1. Expertise 2. Advise/Assist IBA 1. Expertise 2. Advise/Assist IBA Accounting Legal American Black Bear ** years Legislative Process Asiatic Black Bear ** years Life History Andean Bear ** years Management Awards * Member Concerns * Bear-Human Conflict Media Relations Bears in Culture Mentoring / Training * Behavior Newsletter * Bylaws * Nominations * Brown Bear ** years Nuisance / Damage Management Conferences * Nutrition Conservation * Organizational Development Disease Pathology Economic Development * Physiology Education / Outreach * Polar Bear ** years Enforcement Policy * Ethics * Population Dynamics Evolution Quantitative Analysis Field Research Sloth Bear ** years  Financial Management Strategic Planning * Food Habits Sun Bear ** years Genetics Toxicology Giant Panda ** years Travel Grants * GIS Ursus Journal * Grant Review * Veterinary IBA History / Archive Website * Habitat Evaluation Wildlife Rehabilitation Husbandry / Zoo Other - Specify ** Please indicate number of years of experience with each species * Indicates an IBA committee

Please check all academic degrees earned: BA/BS MA/MS PhD/DVM Other (list) Please list major field of study Please list all countries in which you have worked with bears

Please list languages in which you are fluent What changes/improvements would you like to see in the IBA (newsletter, Ursus, conferences, etc.)?

How can IBA better serve its membership and/or help you?  Check here to include your name in the IBA membership directory 

Thank you for completing the survey. Please tear out and mail or fax! 40 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 IBA Publications Order Form Ursus Journal & IBA Conference Proceedings* Cost* Quantity Total 4th 1980 Montana 1977 $30.00 5th 1983 Wisconsin 1980 $30.00 6th 1986 Arizona 1983 $30.00 7th 1987 Virginia/Yugoslavia 1986 $35.00 8th 1990 British Columbia 1989 $40.00 9th (1) 1994 Montana 1992 $45.00 9th (2) 1997 France 1992 $25.00 10th 1998 Ursus-Alaska/Sweden 1995 $40.00 11th 1999 Ursus 11 $45.00 12th 2001 Ursus 12 $45.00 13th 2002 Ursus 13 $45.00 14th 2003 Ursus 14 Volumes 1 & 2 $45.00 15th 2004 Ursus 15 Volumes 1 & 2 $45.00 16th 2005 Ursus 16 $45.00 17th 2006 Ursus 17 inc. Std. Membership $45.00 18th 2007 Ursus 18 inc. Std. Membership $45.00 *40% discount for 3 or more volumes, except Ursus 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17 Less 40% discount (-$ ) Eastern Black Bear Workshop Proceedings, USA 10th 1991 Arkansas 1990 $15.00 11th 1992 New Hampshire 1992 $15.00 13th 1996 Vermont 1996 $15.00 14th 1997 Mississippi 1997 $15.00 15th 2002 Massachusetts 1999 $15.00 16th 2001 South Carolina 2001 $15.00 17th 2005 New Jersey 2003 $15.00 Western Black Bear Workshop Proceedings, USA 4th 1993 California 1991 $15.00 5th 1995 Utah 1995 $15.00 6th 2003 Washington 1997 $15.00

 7th 2004 Oregon 2000 $15.00 Please fill legibly! form out 8th 2005 Montana 2003 $15.00

Monographs of the IBA A Proposed Delineation of Critical Grizzly Bear Habitat in the Yellowstone Region by F. Craighead (#1, 1977) $10.00 The Status and Conservation of the Bears of the World by C. Servheen (#2, 1989) $10.00 Density-Dependent Population Regulation of Black, Brown and Polar Bears edited by M. Taylor (#3, 1994) $10.00 Population Viability for Grizzly Bears: A Critical Review by M. Boyce, B. Blanchard, R. Knight, C. Servheen (#4, 2001) $10.00  US$ Check or Money Order - Make Payable to: IBA TOTAL US$  Mastercard  Visa Card # Expiration Date Customer # (for government cards)

Signature on Card

Name

™ Address

City/State/Zip Code/Country

Phone, Fax & Email

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 www.bearbiology.com. at

International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 41   IBA Officers & Council Executive Council Officers Executive Council Koji Yamazaki Member  Frank van Manen Isaac Goldstein Zoological Laboratory  President Member Ibaraki Nature Museum USGS Southern Appalachian Field Wildlife Conservation Society 700 Osaki Laboratory PO Box 833 Iwai-city, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan University of Tennessee IPOSTEL Merida Phone: +81 297 38 2000 274 Ellington Hall Estado Merida, Venezuela Fax: +81 297 38 1999 Knoxville TN 37996, USA Phone: +58 414-7176792 Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 865-974-0200 Email: [email protected] Fax: +1 865-974-3655 Ex-officio, Non-voting Members Email: [email protected] Djuro Huber Matthew E. Durnin Member International Bear News Editor Harry Reynolds University of Zagreb B4-2 Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound Past President Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty No. 9 Jianwai Dajie PO Box 80843 Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb Chaoyang District Fairbanks AK 99708, USA Republic of Croatia Beijing 100600, China Phone: +1 907-479-5169 Phone: +385 1 2390 141 Phone: +86 (10) 8532-4710 ext 232 Email: [email protected] Fax: +385 1 244 1390 Fax: +86 (10) 8532-3922 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Piero Genovesi, Vice President for Eurasia Mike Proctor Dave Garshelis INFS-National Wildlife Institute Member  Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair Via Ca’ Fornacetta 9 PO Box 920 Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources I-40064 Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy Kaslo BC Canada V0G 1M0 1201 East Highway 2 Phone: +39 051 6512228 Phone: +1 250-353-7339 Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA Fax: +39 051 796628 Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 218-327-4146 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Shyamala Ratnayeke Karen Noyce, Vice President Member  Richard B. Harris  for Americas Department of Forestry, Wildlife Ursus Editor Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources and Fisheries 218 Evans 1201 East Highway 2 University of Tennessee Missoula MT 59801, USA Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Phone & Fax: +1 406-542-6399 Phone: +1 218-327-4432 Phone: +1 865-429-1218 Email: [email protected] Fax: +1 218-327-4181 Email: [email protected] Jon Swenson Bruce McLellan Member  Bear Specialist Group Co-Chair Diana Doan-Crider (non-voting) Department of Ecology and Natural Box 1732  Secretary Resource Management D’arcy BC, V0N 1L0, Canada PO Box 775 Agricultural University of Norway Email: [email protected] Kingsville TX 78363, USA Box 5003, NO-1432 Phone: +1 361-455-3241 As, Norway Jordan Schaul Email: [email protected] Phone: +47 64 94 85 30 AZA Liason Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Cecily Costello Treasurer Michael R. Vaughan Brian Schieck PO Box 567 Virginia Cooperative IBA Student Coordinator Manhattan MT 59741, USA Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Phone: +1 406-284-3477 148 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech Commission Email: [email protected] Blacksburg VA 24061-0321, USA 156 Kelvin, Avenue Phone: +1 540-231-5046 Deltona FL 32738-5002, USA Fax: +1 540-231-7580 Phone: +1 386-789-7063 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] term expires 2008  term expires 2010 International Bear News May 2008, vol. 17 no. 2 43 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 (USA tax #94-3102570) open to professional 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 information. 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 funding, knowledge of geographical areas, or expertise in scientific or non-scientific sectors.

Deadline for the August 2008 issue is July 5, 2008 printed with soy-based ink on 100% recycled, post-consumer waste paper