International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group May 2007 Vol. 16 no. 2

Polar Bears Feeling the Heat, page 19 © Mei-hsiu Hwang © Mei-hsiu 14-month old Formosan bear cubs climbing tree to avoid danger. See story page 9.

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

Council News Student Forum 3 From the President 20 Viva Mexico! IBA Students, Get Ready 5 Nominations Committee Progress 21 Square Holes and Round Pegs on IBA Council Candidates 23 Student List Serve (Truman) 5 Bear Conservation Fund 24 Student Highlight - Matt Durnin 5 Research and Conservation Grants Bears in Culture Bear Specialist Group 25 Country Gentleman 8 Complexities in Releasing Bears From Captivity Publications 9 Proposed Release of Two Captive 25 Ursus Volume 18(1) 2007 Formosan Black Bear Cubs -- Stymied 26 Recent Bear Literature 11 Bear Specialist Group Communications Eurasia 26 Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee 12 Brown Bears finding Their Way Home Nominated “2006 Recovery Champions” 26 Employment Opportunity Americas 13 Some Observations on Andean Bears Events (Tremarctos ornatus) ovaries 27 18th International Conference 15 Sierra de Portuguesa Andean Bear on Bear Research and Management Fieldwork Finally Finished! 30 10th Western Black Bear Workshop 17 North Cascades Grizzly Bear Outreach 30 2007 Captive Bear Husbandry and Project (GBOP) Welfare Symposium 19 Black Bears in the Sierra del Carmen Thwart Drought IBA 31 IBA Membership Application 33 IBA Publications Order Form 35 IBA Officers and Council 36 IBA Mission Statement

Cover photo courtesy of Mei-hsiu Hwang

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), 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 2007 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 31 to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information.  International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Council News in exploring the varied aspects of Treasurer, 5 elected Councilors, From the President life, intrigued by what he didn’t 2 appointed Councilors and, to know and eager to learn to master maintain continuity, Past-President, Harry Reynolds it. He loved life. He was a happy if she/he is not elected to another PO Box 80843 person and a master of many skills, position). Fairbanks, AK 99708 USA including anything to do with As provided by the Bylaws, any Phone: +1 907-479-5169 computers. Scott’s early life was spent member can propose Bylaw changes, Email: [email protected] in Southeast Alaska, but he came but in order to become effective, north to work in the arctic during a 2/3 majority of Council and the Ah, spring. It may have crept up on construction of the Alaska oil pipeline. membership must approve the change. most of you, but in Fairbanks, Alaska, Later, he enrolled in the University of A proposal was made to change the it has been a long time coming. It Alaska computer technology program election procedure to include one has been the coldest February and to pursue other new challenges. He additional Councilor and to elect March on record, and two weeks ago excelled again and made the Dean’s rather than appoint all Councilor the temperature was a balmy -37C Honors List. While continuing to positions. (-34F). Though I’ve lived here for take additional university courses, Currently, the IBA Council the last 36 years, this spring seemed he worked at the Alaska Department is composed of 11 elected and 2 truly tiresome. But--and there always of Fish and Game. While there, he appointed members. The Vice should be a “but”—earlier this week learned that Tully Hammill, IBA’s President-Eurasia and Vice President- the snow actually melted a little on first webmaster, was retiring, and Americas must represent specific the pavement. Today it is early April, immediately volunteered his talents to world regions and so are termed a little breezy, and the temperature take the position. “dedicated” seats. In addition, even has reached 12C (54F). Although Many IBA members are biologists though it is not specified in the migrating birds have not arrived from who have dedicated their energies Bylaws, the IBA Treasurer has always California and points south, resident for bear conservation, others care been a US citizen, as required by US ravens, chickadees and nuthatches are for bears in places where a multitude tax laws so that our association can exhibiting breeding behavior. Bears of people come to learn about these maintain its tax-exempt status. have been observed outside dens, and keystone species, while some are The IBA Council received and some are even wandering through the drawn to bears because they are passed a proposal to change Bylaw snow in the far north where daytime emblematic of wild lands and wild election procedures to increase temperatures have risen above country. Scott volunteered because the number of Councilors from 7 freezing. Brown bears will soon be it was a job that needed to be done, to 8. The proposal was designed out in force searching for roots, over- and the idea of contributing to bear to encourage better international wintered berries, and carrion. Life is conservation strongly appealed to representation on the Council, good. him. Scott will be missed not only and to accomplish this through In a few days, I will be on my way for the service he gave to IBA, but as elections rather than appointments. to join Mongolian researchers and a valued friend, a talented colleague, Procedures for election of President, students to conduct research that we and a person genuinely dedicated to Vice-Presidents, Secretary and hope will serve as the basis for the making a difference while enjoying Treasurer would not change. Four recovery of the Gobi bear. It is truly the world around him. Councilors would stand for election inspiring to work in a country that from any world region (open seats) views bears as a national treasure, and 1 Councilor each would stand where local people value wildlife Bylaw changes for elections for election from each of the 4 resources, and where highly-placed IBA Bylaws are the rules by which world regions of Asia, Europe, government officials support bear our association is governed. The IBA Latin America, and North America conservation. If such attitudes were Council carries out the business of the (dedicated seats). All Council universal, stewardship of the world’s association and addresses important members would be elected by the bears through science-based research issues of bear conservation on behalf entire voting membership and none and management would be more of the members. Under current would be appointed by Council easily achieved. bylaws, 11 Council members are as is presently done. Election of 2 elected by the membership, and up to open Councilor seats would be held 2 are appointed by Council to achieve in conjunction with the Americas Scott Risteen – In Memoriam regional distribution on Council Scott Risteen, IBA’s volunteer conference, 1 dedicated seat for Latin (President, Vice President-Americas, webmaster passed away unexpectedly America, and 1 dedicated seat for Vice President Eurasia, Secretary, on March 17, 2007. Scott reveled North America (Latin America would

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2  Council News be defined as including South be appointed by the IBA Council membership services (paying for dues, America and Mexico because of following the election. conference fees, etc.), addition of shared language and conservation As provided in the bylaws, the advanced technological capabilities, issues; North America would Nominations Committee will provide online discussion opportunities and include Canada, the US, and a list of its nominees in the August voting, and perhaps GIS mapping for Greenland). Similarly, election of 2 newsletter. At that time additional bear distribution. Even though she open Councilor seats would be held nominations for any elected office has been exceptionally busy preparing in conjunction with the Eurasia may be made by any member until 30 for the conference in Mexico, Diana conference, along with 1 dedicated August, 65 days prior to the beginning has volunteered to take on the seat for Europe and 1 dedicated of the Americas conference in Mexico. position of webmaster for the future. I seat for Asia. After the August IBN list is published, know that Scott would have been very All IBA members are invited feel free to provide additional pleased to see these improvements to submit viewpoints to the IBA nomination suggestions, including come about. Council on the proposal. This your own name if you would like to be is especially important because considered, to Piero Genovesi or any Viva Mexico elections for IBA Council will other member of the committee. It may seem early to set aside the occur prior to the conference in dates of 4-10 November 2007 to attend Mexico and any change in the Alaska’s McNeil River the 18th International Conference on Bylaw will result in changes to During March, the Alaska Board Bear Research and Management in elections and appointments. In of Game, considered a regulation Monterrey, Mexico, but it is not. You addition to this proposal, some that would have allowed hunting should register and begin making your “house-keeping” bylaw changes brown bears within 13 km (8 mi) of travel arrangements sooner rather are also in order. The most McNeil Falls, one of the world’s most than later. And remember, any travel important among these will be heavily viewed and photographed into Mexico will require a passport. allow more IBA business and sanctuaries for brown bears. IBA More information on what promises communication to be conducted opposed this opening and presented to be an excellent conference can be electronically, including payment written and oral testimony against found on page 27. of dues, making members aware the proposal. Our testimony was of important conservation issues, in support of a counter-proposal Hosting the Next Americas and online elections, among others. submitted by a hunting organization Please read over the bylaws on that also opposed hunting in the Conference Any group or venue that wishes to the webpage and provide your area. Fortunately for bears that are bid on holding the next Americas IBA suggestions to me or any Council so important to the bear viewing conference in 2010 should strongly member. program and to maintaining the consider making a presentation to integrity of the sanctuary, our the IBA Council during the Mexico arguments, along with others were Nominations for IBA conference. If you do not have a copy successful in the defeat of the Council of the IBA Guidelines for conference proposal. Our letter is posted on the A Nominations Committee preparation, please contact Mike IBA website. composed of Piero Genovesi Vaughan ([email protected]). (chair), Diana Doan-Crider, Martyn Obbard, and Michael Proctor New Website is preparing a list of candidates Outdated email addresses Prior to Scott Risteen’s untimely Often when it is important to for the upcoming election of death, Council had begun discussions communicate with members we find IBA President, Vice President- with Scott and others about improving that email addresses have changed Americas, Secretary, Treasurer, and our website capabilities to better serve or are no longer functional. Even 3 Councilors. If the membership IBA members. To do this, we hoped to when physical addresses are current passes the bylaw change described build upon the website characteristics and members are receiving the latest above, then 4 Councilors will be in use for the upcoming conference issues of International Bear News and elected, 1 representing North in Mexico. Diana Doan-Crider’s Ursus we may not be able to reach you America, 1 representing Latin efforts in preparation of the Mexico electronically. If your email address America, and 2 from any world conference website included many has changed in the last 4 years, please region. If it does not pass, then 3 of the facets that Council had been contact Joe Clark ([email protected]) Councilors will be elected from discussing with Scott, including and make certain he has your current any world region, and 1 may the opportunity for secure online information.

 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Council News First, circulation of a preliminary acquisition of IBA publications Nominations candidate list before the end of May for those residing and working in Committee: will provide members time to propose areas where funds for travel and additional nominees as is required by publications are hard to come by. Progress on List our bylaws. Second, this timing will This year, the Bear Conservation of IBA Council then allow us to provide a final list of Fund will provide over $55,000 candidates in time for publication in for these purposes. IBA wishes to Candidates the August issue of the International extend heartfelt thanks to everyone Bear News and before the Monterey who made donations to the Bear Piero Genovesi conference. Conservation Fund this year. Vice-President for Eurasia Since our list will be circulated Special thanks go to the following & Chair Nominations Committee before a final decision on the for their generosity and support of INFS-National Wildlife Institute dedicated seats issue has been IBA’s mission: Via Ca’ Fornacetta 0 made, we will propose two separate I-40064 Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy selections of candidates: one based (Over $10,000) Phone: +39 051 651-2228 on the proposed bylaws change (two Email: [email protected] regional councilors; two open seats) and one based on the present bylaws The John Bevins Memorial Fund (three open seats). The Stahman Family As you all know, at the next IBA The Homer Bear Conservation Fund conference in Monterrey, we are In the upcoming days I urge you going to have elections for several IBA all to monitor the IBA webpage and watch your emails for a preliminary Other major donors: offices including; the IBA President, Bear Trust International Vice President-Americas, Secretary, list of candidates. Again, our intention is to have a final list of Charles Smid Treasurer and 3 councilors. I have Joan Rog been asked by Harry Reynolds to nominees – those proposed by the nomination committee as well as the Alan Brody coordinate the work of a nominations Some who wish to remain anonymous committee that is working on IBA membership – published in the selecting a list of potential candidates August issue of the International Bear to submit for your vote. News. Research and The list of candidates may change significantly; depending on the Bear Conservation Conservation outcome of the vote on the dedicated Grants Program seats issue (see pg 3). In fact, if the IBA Fund membership passes the bylaw change then 4 Councilors will be elected, Karen Noyce Frederick C. Dean (Chair) 1 representing North America, 1 Vice President for Americas 810 Ballaine Road representing Latin America, and 2 Minnesota Department of Natural Fairbanks AK 99709-6606, USA from any world region. If it does Resources Phone: +1 907-479-6607 not pass, then 3 Councilors will be 1201 East Highway 2 Email: [email protected] elected from any world region, and 1 Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA may be appointed by the IBA Council Phone: +1 218-327-4432 This year’s review process was following the election. Email: [email protected] protracted due to several factors Our initial idea was to wait for beyond the Committee’s control. a final decision on the dedicated IBA’s Bear Conservation Fund However, we are in the final stages. seats issue before finalizing our list. enables us to reach beyond our We had 25 proposals submitted and However, due to time constraints traditional and core functions offered 11 grants. Most have been we have decided not to wait for an of holding conferences and accepted; in some cases relatively outcome on the bylaws change before disseminating information on minor modifications to the budget circulating proposed candidates. The research findings and conservation and/or work schedule were necessary nominations committee will complete status of the world’s bears. Through since the grants offered were for our candidate selection before the the Bear Conservation Fund, IBA can less than had been requested. end of May and will be emailing it to provide direct financial support for Decisions regarding grants for a small you all as well as posting it in the IBA field investigations, work exchanges proportion of the amount needed webpage before the end of May. and partnerships between projects, are pending in two cases while the Our choice of timing is two fold. and travel to IBA conferences and

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2  Council News applicants assess the possibilities of such programs, often involving other and agencies at all relevant levels. alternate funding. local people as well. Two more such The RCGC will develop and publicize The total amount of grant money students are expected to complete a clear policy regarding grants and we were working with, $51,500, was their degrees during the coming year. this sort of project. We hope to substantially less than last year. The Some summary information on have that done and approved by the RCG program’s share of income from the distribution of this year’s grants Council well before the next group the Bevins Foundation was $17,000. by species, region, and other factors is of applications is prepared. At the The new Homer’s Bear Conservation shown in tabular form below. moment, it is likely that the only Fund provided $14,000. Helen We have had an increasing number projects that will receive IBA grants and Deane Stahman made a major of proposals dealing with bears and are those that could serve as models donation, and the balance came from human food or garbage. It would have for a new approach or those in truly IBA’s Bear Conservation Fund. been possible to use nearly half of this critical areas for which it can be Over the years the quality of year’s total on projects addressing shown that other funding has been proposals has grown steadily better; public education and/or the purchase exhausted. Watch future issues of this is great but increases the difficulty of bear resistant containers. As a IBN for more on this. of selecting the proposals to fund. On result of the large number of these I want to thank all of those whose the plus side, it is really rewarding to proposals, the committee agreed gifts have made the Research and be able to see the effects of assistance that for this year more or less routine Conservation Grants Program from the IBA. Some very significant projects of this type should not get possible. I urge anyone interested in programs in bear conservation have IBA grants. There is no question any of the IBA grants programs to been implemented. IBA grants have at all as to the importance of that keep an eye on IBN for the progress been critical to a growing number work. However, in most cases this and final reports that grantees submit. of developing professionals. Many is something that seems as though Again, I thank the rest of the RCGC: temporarily left their home countries the people choosing to live in bear Julia Bevins, Jörg Rauer, Shyamala to gain graduate education and then country should accept as a part of Ratnayeke, and Gordon Warburton. return. They continue to produce the cost of doing so. Additionally, in They have continued to put a great information necessary for sound bear most cases funding should probably deal of thought and effort into the conservation programs and to develop be shared by governmental bodies RCG Program.

Table 1: Projects That Recieved Research and Conservation Grant Offers 2006 - 2007 Project Title Species Country/Region Grantee Evaluation and planning of bear conservation in Uttaranchal, Melursus ursinus, Ursus India Dr. H. S. Bargali $7,000 India. arctos, & Ursus thibetanus Distribution, habitat, and landscape-use of the Andean bear in S. Garcia-Rangel, Lic. Tremarctos ornatus Venezuela $4,700 Sierra de Portuguesa (Ph.D. student) A. Giannakopoulos Impact of highways & construction on bear population Ursus arctos Greece $1,200 (Ph.D. Student) Status of Declining Brown Bear Populations in Northern Ursus arctos Mongolia Dr. B. Lhagvasuren $7,000 Mongolia An assessment of the behaviors of reintroduced Asiatic D. Ngoprasert black bear Ursus thibetanus in the wild as predictors of Ursus thibetanus Thailand $4,500 (Ph.D. student) reintroduction success Helarctos malayanus, & Ursus Bear conservation in Cambodia Cambodia A. Olsson (et al.) $8,500 thibetanus J. Skvarla Sanderlin (Ph.D. student Noninvasive genetic mark-recapture misidentification error: - Forestry and application to the central Georgia, United States, black bear Ursus americanus U.S.A. (GA) $5,500 Natural Resources population and M.Sci. student - statistics ) Population trends and degree of isolation for Asiatic black Ursus thibetanus Nepal Dr. C. H. Stubblefield $1,200 bears in Nepal’s Western Protected Areas M. P. Viteri Genetic diversity and structure of the Andean bear in Ecuador Tremarctos ornatus Ecuador $3,400 (M.Sci. student) Conservation of spectacled bears and their cloud forest and Dr. S. White (et al.) Tremarctos ornatus Ecuador $1,500 paramo habitat in the Ecuadorian highlands (Pending) Distribution mapping, trend monitoring, and discerning Ursus thibetanus China Dr. X. Zhu (et al.) $7,000 factors related to persistence or extirpation

TOTAL $51,500

 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Council News

Table 2: Summary of Proposals Received and Funded by IBA Research and Conservation Grants Committee 2006 - 2007

Northern Asia Southern Asia Southeast Asia All Asia Combined No. No. No. No. Number submitted Total grant submitted Total grant submitted Total grant submitted Total grant SPECIES submitted (No. $$ offered (No. $$ offered (No. $$ offered (No. $$ offered funded) funded) funded) funded) 20 Single-species 2 (2) $14,000 3 (1) $1,200 3 (1) $4,500 8 (4) $19,700

5 Multi-species 1 (1) $7,000 1 (1) $8,500 2 (2) $15,500

Zoo (captive mgmt.) [1] 0 (0) $-

TOTAL 2 (2) $14,000 4 (2) $8,200 4 (2) $13,000 10 (6) $35,200

0 A. melanoleuca 0 (0) $-

4 H. malayanus 1 (0) 0 2 (1) $8,500 3 (1) $8,500

2 M. ursinus 1 (1) $7,000 1 (0) 2 (1) $7,000

3 T. ornatus 0 (0) $-

7 U. americanus 0 (0) $-

9 U. arctos 1 (1) $7,000 1 (1) 2 (2) $7,000

0 U. maritimus 0 (0) $-

6 U. thibetanus 1 (1) $7,000 2 (2) $1,200 3 (0) 6 (3) $8,200

Table 2: con’t from above Europe, Scandanavia, North America South America western Russia, etc. Proportion No. No. No. No. of submitted Total grant submitted Total grant submitted Total grant submitted Funded proposals SPECIES (No. $$ offered (No. $$ offered (No. $$ offered (No. count submitted funded) funded) funded) funded) by type or spp. Single-species 5 (1) $5,500 3 (3) $9,600 4 (1) $1,200 20 (9) 9 0.45

Multi-species 3 (0) 5 (2) 2 0.40

Zoo (captive mgmt.) [1] (0) [1] (0) 0

TOTAL 8 (1) $5,500 3 (3) $9,600 4 (1) $1,200

A. melanoleuca 0 (0) 0

H. malayanus 1 (0) 4 (1) 1 0.25

M. ursinus 2 (1) 1 0.50

T. ornatus 3 (3) $9,600 3 (3) 3 1.00

U. americanus 7 (1) $5,500 7 (1) 1 0.14

U. arctos 3 (0) 4 (1) $1,200 9 (3) 3 0.33

U. maritimus 0 (0) 0

U. thibetanus 6 (3) 3 0.50

TOTAL 31 * * Note: Numbers of species exceed the total number of proposals because of multi-species proposals

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2  Bear Specialist Group these centers focus on charismatic consideration the age, experience, Complexities in species, and some have become major and length of training of the bears Releasing Bears tourist attractions and a magnet for to be released, as well as seasonal the media. Such centers may aid abundance of foods at the release site. from Captivity conservation by providing educational Release sites should have few resident opportunities and perhaps generating bears, but with a capacity for more. Bruce McLellan funding that can be used for There is little point in adding bears & conservation projects, but they rarely to an ecosystem that is near carrying Dave Garshelis add animals to a wild population. capacity or one where the limiting Co-chairs IUCN Bear Specialist Indeed, most bears raised in rehab factor that led to low bear numbers Group centers are not suitable for release. has not be corrected. Although the Email: [email protected] Bears are more difficult to implications of released bears on [email protected] successfully rehabilitate than many resident bears is poorly understood, other animals, because they easily there is a possibility for exploitive and The world is loosing species grow accustomed to humans and interference competition and even at unprecedented rates. Yet, on human-related attractants. If captive infanticide. Preferably, released bears occasion, individuals of rare and bears associate food with people, or should be collared and monitored usually charismatic species end up in loose their innate fear of people, they closely. All releases should be treated captivity. The problem appears to be will be far more likely to come into as experiments with clearly defined growing, partially due to escalating contact with people when released. monitoring schedules and goals. confiscations of animals from illicit This not only results in a bad outcome Additional important aspects of the trade networks or captive facilities. for the individual bear, but also may release site include the surrounding The solution might appear to be diminish the local public’s view of human density, types of human obvious – raise and rehabilitate the bears, and thereby negatively affect activities (agriculture, recreation) animals until they can be put back the very conservation efforts that the and local public and governmental into the wild. This simple “win-win” released bear was a part. attitudes towards bears. Public solution saves the individual and It is therefore of utmost importance information and education programs also may help save a small, isolated that bears in rehabilitation centers in the release area, and coordination population. But, of course, it’s not have as little positive-reinforced with governmental officials (who that simple. contact with people as possible. may have to deal with questions and For many reasons, bears are Consequently, it is almost impossible problems) would be beneficial. relatively common in rehabilitation to rehabilitate adult bears that have What is success? If the goal of the centers, and significant resources are been fed by people for extended release is to restore a bear population, being directed toward such centers periods of time. Orphaned cubs then the release should result in a in many parts of the world. Pet intended for release should have net population gain over the long bears, farmed bears, dancing bears, minimal contact with people. term. That is, the added bears should baiting bears, and orphaned bear Aversive conditioning as opposed contribute to reproductive output, cubs have ended up at rehab centers to positive conditioning of bears to and they and their offspring should in increasing numbers. But there humans may improve chances for not diminish the reproduction or have been very few successful releases successful release. survival of native bears. Even with back to the wild. The goal of this Chances of success also may be radiocollars, though, it may be essay is to: 1) suggest why success has improved if, before release, bears can impossible to measure reproduction been rare, and provide suggestions become familiar with living in an area of the released animals (depending on of how to improve the chances of similar to the release site. This might the circumstances) and rarely would successful rehabilitation and release, involve a large fenced pen in an area it be possible to measure effects on 2) discuss where re-introductions of natural habitat, where bears can neighboring animals. Nevertheless, may be successful, and 3) try to define explore and find some of their own it is still worth keeping in mind that success. foods. Providing natural or close-to- the released animals will interact Paradoxically in a sense, the natural foods (including, for some (positively or negatively) with others primary purpose of most so-called bear species, live animals that they in the population. “rehabilitation centers” is not to have to capture), rather than human- There are many potential prepare animals for release back to the related foods, would also be helpful. reasons for releasing captive bears: wild. Their goal is just to save injured, Another important consideration augmenting small populations sick, orphaned, or mistreated animals is the release site, and timing of the (demographically or genetically); from dying or suffering. Many of release. Timing should take into repopulating extirpated areas;

 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group removing animals from over- http://www.bearsmart.com/ We decided to conduct an populated captive facilities; managingBears/Rehab.html experimental study to train the cubs improving the lives of individual as subjects that could be released into animals; improving the public image IUCN. 2002. Guidelines for the the wild and followed by researchers, of the wildlife authority; testing a placement of confiscated animals who could then make close-up rehabilitation technique; or providing IUCN/SSC Re-introduction observations of their food habits, subject individuals that can be studied Specialist Group. http://www habitat choices, and behaviors. This at close range. iucnsscrsg.org/downloads.html technique of walking-with-bears that Potential shortcomings of releasing Kolter, L. and J. van Dijk. 2005 have been released from captivity captive bears include: possibilities of Rehabilitation and release of has been successful with both sun nuisance or aggressive encounters bears – for the welfare of bears (Fredriksson 2005, 2006) and with people (affecting public attitudes conservation or the conservation American black bears (Kilham and toward the release or toward bears of welfare? Köln Zoological Garden Gray 2002), yielding information in general), competition with other http://www.iucnsscrsg.org/images that would have been impossible to bears, spread of disease, and genetic REHABILITATION_CD_ROM gain any other way. Co-principal pollution. The difficulty is that final.pdf investigators in this project included information is often incomplete, Dong-Ji He (ESRI) and Ying Wang so outcomes are not predictable. (National Taiwan Normal University). Moreover, people with different Proposed Release Our study was designed in three viewpoints may weigh potential risks phases: and gains differently. of Two Captive (1) Mother-cub interaction (cubs The accompanying article Formosan Black <4 months old): The bear family was (this page) describes a case where not disturbed until the cubs were researchers in Taiwan, led by Mei-hsiu Bear Cubs — >4 month old. Bear behavior was Hwang (co-chair Asiatic black bear Stymied monitored by remote-cameras or expert team) proposed to release two observed by researchers. captive-born Asiatic black bear cubs (2) Establishing bond between with a specific research objective in Mei-hsiu Hwang researchers and cubs (5-8 months mind. Others evaluating the project Co-chair BSG Asiatic black bear old): In order to establish a bond felt that the potential gains did not Expert Team between the cubs and researchers, offset the potential risks. Genetics Institute of Wildlife Conservation we slowly separated the cubs from turned out to be the major stumbling National Pingtung University of their mother. The separation time block. To provide some context, many Science and Technology started with several hours per day and wildlife species in Taiwan (and other Pingtung, Taiwan 912 grew to 3-4 days per week. Only 3-4 large islands) are considered specific Phone: 886-8-7740416 specific researchers had contact with or subspecific endemics, or at least Email: [email protected] the cubs. We continued to enrich the are given a name that suggests they & captive environment and started to are endemic (e.g., Formosan serow, Chieh-Chung Yang provide various foods collected from Formosan muntjac, Formosan sika Endemic Species Research Institute nearby forests and markets, hoping deer, Formosan wild boar, Formosan Nantou, Taiwan 552 to increasingly mimic the natural macaque, Formosan hare, Formosan Phone: 886-49-2761331 situation. During this time the bears black bear). Hence, maintaining a Email:[email protected] were kept in a 10 x 20 m pen. pure genetic (Formosan) stock is a (3) Assimilation of cubs (9-15 longstanding issue. This factor may Two female Formosan black bear months): The cubs were totally draw less concern in other areas. cubs were born in November 2005 separated from their mother and Nevertheless, the story demonstrates at the Low Altitude Experimental placed in a fenced, broad-leaved the complexities and variety of views Station of the Endemic Species natural forest (40m x 60m). Cubs involved in even the best thought-out Research Institute (ESRI), central were fed seasonally available wild release projects. Taiwan. Formosan black bears are foods, and also given a chance to Further important information on considered an endemic subspecies of hunt down living animals, like pigs this subject can be found in: Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus and goats. We also observed them Beecham, J. 2006. Orphan bear cubs formosanus) on the island of Taiwan exploring for natural foods, burying Rehabilitation and release (Formosa). Purpose of the experiment leftovers, and making nests, just as guidelines. World Society for station includes breeding and wild bears. They tolerated proximity Protection of Animals. restoring endemic Formosan species. of the specific researchers, but they

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2  Bear Specialist Group were trained not to tolerate strangers. About once every 1-3 weeks they were exposed to strangers; if they approached them, they were driven away with loud noises (shouting, noise makers, firecrackers, banging metal pots) and pepper spray. Eventually they learned to avoid strangers. Our team, consisting of 2 full- time research assistants who worked with the bears and one person who collected forest foods, invested 11 months of work in preparation for the release. In total, we fed the bears some 300 species of food. During this period, our team also visited and evaluated potential release sites. We sought a large forested area with low bear density, and communicated with appropriate local governmental Bear cubs tolerated close-up observations by researchers. authorities. Eventually we prepared a report indicating that we had found The principal concern, though, a good site and were ready for the local community and hikers; and (2) was that these bears might not be release. the bears would be equipped with true Formosan black bears, and A committee was convened by GPS collars with a satellite download, might spread their genes to the wild the ERSI in late September 2006, to so we could access their locations in population, interjecting unnatural evaluate our proposed release and near real-time, and thus find them genetic variation. In fact, the genetics make recommendations for obtaining and capture them (via darting), if so of these bears was inconclusive a permit from the Forestry Bureau. required. because of a paucity of data: there Committee members included three A second, follow-up meeting of was no evidence indicating that they wildlife biologists from universities the committee was convened in were not pure Formosan black bears, and the Forestry Research Institute, February 2007. Here we clarified but this was still a possibility. The and Forestry Bureau officials. our position that the purpose of committee thus felt that this risk Relevant local government officials the release was simply for research, outweighed the benefits that might and one zoo biologist working on not population augmentation. We be derived from a research study bear genetics also were invited to the provided additional genetic data of these bears, and thus made the meeting. from other regions of Taiwan and recommendation that a permit not be The committee expressed mainland populations of Asiatic black granted. particular concerns about the bears. Finally, we stressed that the In part, the committee’s potential risks of genetic and bears had been adequately trained decision was based on formalized behavioral pollution of the wild to avoid contact with strangers, but reintroduction guidelines by the population. They wanted to ensure allow close approach of the designated IUCN, which include not only that (1) these were pure-bred researchers. We even took the definitive genetic data, but also Formosan bears, and (2) that they committee to the bear pen, and as we data on the population of animals would not become nuisances to people expected, the bears fled to the tops of at the release site, local threats, in the release area; if so, they should trees when the strangers approached. and local public support of the be recaptured immediately. Genetic Some committee members release. We argued that this was information was insufficient to nevertheless voiced concerns that the a research project, involving only definitively distinguish the heritage of bears might still become a nuisance, two bears, not a true reintroduction these bears. With regard to potential that they might even spread bad project, but the committee failed behavioral problems, we informed behavior to other wild bears (as has to accept this distinction. In fact, the committee that (1) an education occurred in some primate societies), they suggested that such a research program and enhanced patrolling and that there was no guarantee that project could be conducted inside would occur along with the release the researchers could retrieve the the fenced pen (possibly enlarging to inform and gain support from the bears.

10 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Bear Specialist Group it). They considered our efforts stories, photos, and video footage commendable, as far as they went, that would have been available). Bear Specialist but still insufficient. If further data Moreover, this proposed release would Group could be collected to better clarify have provided valuable information the genetic stock of the two bears, the about the efficacy of such releases. decision could be re-evaluated at a There are many places in the world The Bear Specialist Group (BSG) later date (a PhD student is currently where releases of Asiatic black bears is organized into species and topical working on genetic comparisons are being proposed — either for expert teams, each with two co- between Formosan bears and those on the purpose of augmenting wild chairs. These co-chairs, along with the mainland, but results will not be populations, or just to dispose of a some other specialists comprise the available for several years). growing number of confiscated bears coordinating committee, which is Our view is that the committee — but the best methods for doing so listed below. did not fully appreciate the full scope have not been worked out. of this endeavor. Bears in Taiwan If a proposed research project Coordinating Committee Co-chairs are classified as endangered. They like ours is to be judged mainly in Bruce McLellan are rare, but continue to be poached. terms of its effects on conservation [email protected] Research findings may not necessarily (possible genetic pollution), then it help alleviate poaching, but we have would seem that the full extent of its Dave Garshelis found that research itself stimulates conservation implications should have [email protected] public attention to the problem. We been considered. Unfortunately, our have been involved in intensive studies project has been halted, and the bears European Brown Bear Expert Team of wild bears for the past 10 years, returned to a smaller pen. Future Co-chairs including capturing and collaring of cubs will be born at the ESRI and Djuro Huber 15 animals (a procedure that itself similarly raised in pens, with no real [email protected] cannot be considered risk free). We connection to in situ conservation have learned a lot in the process, but of the species. Broader thinking Jon Swenson possibly the biggest gain so far in about bear releasing projects seems [email protected] terms of the bear’s conservation has warranted. been through the public interest that North Asian Brown Bear Expert Team Co-chairs the research has aroused. Certainly Literature Cited our proposed research on these two John Paczkowski Fredriksson, G. M. 2005. [email protected] bears was not intended principally Conservation threats facing to attract public interest, but clearly sun bears, Helarctos malayanus, it would have done that (imagine the Tsutomu Mano in Indonesia and experiences with [email protected] sun bear re-introductions in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Pages South Asian Brown Bear Expert Team 35–42 n L. Kolter and J. van Dijk, Co-chairs editors Rehabilitation and release of S. Sathyakumar bears – for the welfare of [email protected] conservation or the conservation of welfare? Köln Zoological Garden. Ozgun Emre Can Fredriksson, G. M., S. A. Wich, and [email protected] Trisno. 2006. Frugivory in sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) is Asiatic Black Bear Expert Team Co- linked to El Nino-related chairs fluctuations in fruiting phenology, Dave Garshelis East Kalimantan, Indonesia [email protected] Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 89:489-508. Mei-hsiu Hwang Kilhan, B, and E. Gray. 2002. Among [email protected] the bears: raising orphaned cubs in the wild. Henry Holt and Co., New York. Captive Formosan black bear getting used to wearing a radiocollar.

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 11 Bear Specialist Group

Sun Bear Expert Team Co-chairs Andean Bear Expert Team Co-chairs Mexican Black Bear Coordinator Gabriella Fredriksson Isaac Goldstein Diana Crider [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Rob Steinmetz Ximena Velez-Liendo IBA Representative [email protected] [email protected] Harry Reynolds [email protected] Sloth Bear Expert Team Co-chairs Trade in Bear Parts Expert Team Co- N.P.S. Chauhan chairs Coordinating Committee Member [email protected] Chris Servheen John Seidensticker [email protected] [email protected] Shyamala Ratnayeke [email protected] Chris Shepard [email protected] Polar Bear Specialist Group Chair Giant Panda Expert Team Co-chairs Andrew Derocher Lü Zhi Captive Bears Expert Team Co-chairs [email protected] [email protected] Lydia Kolter [email protected] Wang Dajun [email protected] Jackson Zee [email protected] Eurasia unique experience in the handling Brown Bears of wild, but also captive and injured Finding Their Way bears in Greece. The two brown bear cubs, Manolis and Kyriakos (named Home after the shepherd who saved them and his wife), were brought to the Alexandros A. Karamanlidis Veterinary station of ARCTUROS, Research Associate where they were raised for two ARCTUROS years. At the end of 2006 the two 3, Victor Hugo St. young bears were released into the 54625 Thessaloniki ARCTUROS Brown Bear Sanctuary GREECE in Nymfeo, where they will spend Email: [email protected] the rest of their life, together with Web: http://www.arcturos.gr Manolis is being transported to 13 other bears (mostly former circus the ARCTUROS Bear Sanctuary and dancing bears), in semi natural Fate did not grant them the most conditions. This spring, Mitsos and fortunate head start into life. In May Kyriakos emerged from their dens, th 2004 two brown bear cubs in the the 20 of March the astounded after their first winter sleep, in good mountains of northwestern Greece employees of a garage in the health and are now finding their way were attacked by shepherd dogs and municipality of Meliti reported a around their new home. Although separated from their mother. The bear being chased around the village both of them will never be able to shepherd who came to their rescue, by shepherd dogs and pinned down return to their natural environment took care of them for a couple of in the banks of a nearby river. The in the mountains of Greece, we hope months, before handing them over unusual aspect about the incident is that they will become key partners to the local Forestry Department, the fact that Meliti is located far from in the efforts of ARCTUROS to raise which in turn delivered them to preferred bear habitat, in a cultivated public awareness in the protection of ARCTUROS. ARCTUROS is a Greek lowland area. Although one can only the last remaining wild bears in the NGO dedicated to the conservation speculate, one must consider the country. of mountainous ecosystems and their possibility that the unusually mild A rather unusual bear incident wildlife; throughout its 15 year-long winter this year in Greece led the was reported recently from the area existence, ARCTUROS has gathered bear to emerge early from its den and of Florina in northern Greece. On search for food in unusual places. The

12 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Eurasia

local Forestry Department, Hunting Association, Police Department and the Emergency Team of ARCTUROS were notified immediately. In a cooperative effort, locals from Meliti were notified and the area close to the bear was sealed off in an attempt to prevent curious bystanders from terrifying the young animal further. After leaving it for several hours alone and under the cover of night the young bear managed to find its way home, in the mountains of Northern Greece. ARCTUROS would like to thank all parties involved in the

rescue operation of “Meliteas” (as he ©L.Georgiadis/ARCTUROS was affectionately named by locals) for Kyriakos exploring his new home their immediate and effective actions. Americas

conservation point of view, due to hepatic disease: she was taken to the Some Observations the role it fulfills in the ecosystem School of Veterinary Medicine, San on Andean Bears where it lives as well as its influence Marcos University, in Lima, Peru. The on Andean culture (Peyton 1999). collected ovaries were kept in buffered (Tremarctos ornatus) One way to help manage and conserve formalin, sectioned, dehydrated the Andean bear is to know its basic and mixed with paraffin. The 6 µm ovaries reproductive aspects in order to sections were cut from paraffin blocks improve captive breeding techniques. stained with hematoxilin-eosin- Marco A. Enciso, DVM Females give birth to 1-4 cubs, with Orange G. & gestation periods that vary between Information on ovarian Martha Vásquez, DVM 160 to 255 days (Bloxam 1977, morphology in ursids is limited: the Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Rosenthal 1987). So far, the duration results obtained were compared Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the oestrus cycle has not been mostly with similar studies involving San Marcos University, Lima, Peru determined and hormonal activity brown bears (Ursus arctos) (Özfiliz Correspondence address: studies have not provided satisfactory 1998) and Giant panda (Ailuropoda Jr. San Miguel 257, 2° Piso results (Dehnhard et al 2006). melanoleuca) (Knight et al 1985). The Urb. Cahuache, San Luis. Lima 30. There is no information on the ovaries’ position was similar to that Lima, Peru morphologic characteristics of the found in Giant pandas (Knight et al, Phone: +51197060016 female Andean bear’s genital organs, 1985) and brown bears (Özfiliz, 1998); E-mail: [email protected] particularly the ovaries. For this the ovaries are located within the reason it is necessary to study the abdominal cavity, in the sub lumbar There is lack of knowledge on the anatomy and reproductive cycle of region, toward the back of the kidneys. biological and reproductive aspects of the female Andean bear. In this The ovaries presented an ellipsoid some threatened species such as the article, the macro and microscopic shape, being slightly hard to the touch; Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus). anatomical characteristics of the they were covered with abundant fat The Andean bear is classified by the Andean bear’s ovaries are investigated. tissue and wrapped in a white liquid World Conservation Union (IUCN We collected both ovaries of a substance, the ovaric sac, which also 2006) as a Vulnerable species world- 20-year old female Andean bear. wraps the oviducts. The right ovary wide, due to hunting and habitat The bear came from the Zoo of the measured 20 mm in length, 10 mm in destruction, the very reasons of their Immaculada school, in Lima; she was width and 8 mm in thickness. The left population decline. The Andean kept in captivity throughout its life ovary measured 19 mm in length, 12 bear is an important species from a and never mated. The bear died of mm in width and 9 mm in thickness.

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 13 Americas Theriogenology. 66:1755-1761. IUCN. 2006. Red List of Threatened Species. Available online at www redlist.org Knight, JA.; M. Bush; M. Celma; AL. García del Campo; R. Göltenboth; JP. Hearn et al. 1985. Veterinary aspects of reproduction in the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Bongo (Berlin), Proc Int. Symp. Giant Panda. pp.93-126. Özfiliz, N. 1998. Histological investigation on the structural aspects of adults Brown bears´ovary. Tr. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 22:293-298. Andean bear oocyte (arrow). HE-Orange G Stain. 40x. Peyton, B. 1999. Spectacled bear conservation action plan. In: Bears Status survey and conservation These values are similar to those corpus lutea in regression, which action plan. Servheen, C.; S. reported for Giant panda (Knight et al were made by connective tissue cells. Herrero; B. Peyton. (eds). p:157-198 1985). In the medullary zone, we observed IUCN/SCC Bear Specialist Group Microscopically the ovaries connective lax tissue, abundant elastic Switzerland and Cambridge. U.K. presented a simple superficial coating fibers and blood vessels of different Priedkalns, J. 1976. Sistema constituted by cubic epithelium. The sizes. reproductor femenino. In cortical and medullary zone was The general description of Histología veterinaria. Dellman, observed in defined form. Fibroblastic this female Andean bear’s ovaries HD.; EM. Brown. (eds). p:343-372 cells were observed in the ovarian resembles the ovarian morphologic Ed. Acribia, Spain. crust, underneath the superficial patterns reported for carnivores, Rosenthal, MA. 1987. Official epithelium constituting the tunic including the domestic dog (Canis historical register for all Spectacled albuginea. The cortical stroma, familiaris) (Priedkalns 1976) other bears 1986. In: International constituted by lax connective tissue, than, as mentioned, the brown bear Studbook for the Spectacled bears was distributed around the follicles (Özfiliz, 1998) and Giant panda Weinhardt, D. (ed). p:11-28. Lincoln and corpus luteum. A large amount (Knight 1985). Additional studies are Park Zoological Gardens, Chicago of follicles at different development necessary to determine the stages of Park District Press, Chicago Ill stages was observed. The primordial ovarian development in younger and U.S.A. follicles were constituted by a central pregnant individuals. We also need to oogonium surrounded by simple plain sample more ovaries. epithelium. The primary follicles were surrounded by a basal membrane This study provides basic information and presented one oogonium on ovarian morphology of the surrounded by a layer of cubical cells Andean bear, and it contributes to (granulose cells). The secondary the knowledge of the reproductive follicles presented an oocyte in which anatomy of this species. the nuclear chromatin net stands out; the pellucida zone and in some Literature Cited cases the formation of follicular Bloxam, Q. 1977. Breeding the cavities were observed as well. In the Spectacled bear at the Jersey Zoo tertiary follicles, we observed oocytes Int. Zoo Yearbook. 17:158-161. with central nucleus surrounded by Dehnhard, M.; TB. Hildebrandt; T. cumulus oosphorus, in addition to the Knauf; K. Jewgenow; L. Kolter; F. © Joan Skidmore prominent follicular cavern presence Göritz. 2006. Comparative (see Figure). The atresic follicles were endocrine investigations in made of cells during lisis with picnotic three bear species based in urinary characteristics. We also observed steroid metabolites and volatiles

14 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Americas Fieldwork for the Andean Bear – Sierra de Portuguesa Project - Finally Finished! … Now Back to the Office for Data Analysis! Shaenandhoa García-Rangel PhD candidate Wildlife Research Group University of Cambridge bioshaena@gmail Phone: +44-1223-333753 Figure 1 Map of Primary forest cover for sierra de Portuguesa and NPs Email: [email protected] the remnant forest connecting the key contacts with community groups, After three-and-a-half years of first two protected areas, site of an zoological societies, governmental continuous efforts, the fieldwork stage “Ecological Corridor” project (Figure institutions, NGO’s and universities for the project: “Evaluation of the 1)(Garcia-Rangel 2004, Garcia-Rangel were established. distribution, habitat and landscape- et al 2004). Twelve expeditions and A pilot study to test field- use of the Andean bear (Tremarctos 6 short excursions were undertaken methods and train field-assistants ornatus) in Sierra de Portuguesa, with local guides and hunters for PI was conducted from May to August Venezuelan Andes”, is finally over. training on bear-sign recognition 2004. Work was concentrated on Data are looking really promising and (Garcia-Rangel 2004). Over 300 the “Ecological Corridor”, to gather good results are expected. bear-signs were found and two bears information on Andean bear presence. The project started in 2002, as a (female and cub) were sighted (Figure A total of 15 fixed-width transects request from a local NGO to promote 2) (Garcia-Rangel 2004, Garcia-Rangel (500x10m) were sampled for bear- biodiversity conservation in one of et al 2004). A total of 36 interviews sign census across both primary and the most fragmented regions within on bear-related cultural belief and secondary forest, and 322 bear-signs the Venezuelan Andes: Sierra de human-bear conflicts were carried were recognized (Goldstein 1990, Portuguesa. It was set to identify out within the villages visited and, Garcia-Rangel 2004a, Rodriguez & environmental and anthropogenic factors that modulate Andean bear distribution, habitat and landscape- use applying non-invasive methods to data collection, and following a landscape-ecology approach based on geographic information systems (GIS)(Garcia-Rangel 2003). After a year of careful planning at the Wildlife Research Group, the project was ready to start in the field, and the Principal Investigator (PI) headed back to Venezuela on August 2003. From September 2003 to March 2004, an exploratory stage across the study region was conducted. Four main sites were visited: the three National Parks (NPs) (Yacambú, Terepaima and Figure 2 Palm tree eaten by Andean bear Guache) in Sierra de Portuguesa, and

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 15 Americas key bear habitat, covers only 7.46% (322km2) of Sierra de Portuguesa (4,316km2), and it is fragmented into 7 large patches (Figure 1) (Garcia- Rangel 2004a). Overall map accuracy was 60%, based on the ERRMAT algorithm on Idrisi32. Thus, more GCPs were collected during following field trips to improve analysis precision. Field-work started again on August 2005, including this time a parallel project (undergraduate assignment) to evaluate sign-aging (Figure 3). Over 200 signs, including feeding signs, claw-marks, scats, hair, tracks, day- beds and rubbing sites were created on non-disturbed and disturbed primary forest. Sign changes were monitored every other day for a month, and a preliminary aging scale was developed for following data collection. The Figure 3 Fieldteam for the sign aging project at work project continued for a year with monthly visits from the field crew Cadena 1991, Buckland et al 2001, and 1 TM5 satellite images using (Garcia-Rangel 2006). Sutherland 1996). Data analysis 555 ground control points (GCP) From September to December showed significant differences on sign was undertaken. From a total of 14 2005, the final standardization of frequency between these vegetation- vegetation-cover categories identified, field-methods was completed. Thirty cover categories. only 4 were associated with bear three fixed-width transects (500x10m) GIS analyses were carried out habitat: primary forest, secondary with a truncated-distance-sampling from December 2004 to April 2005, forest (> 15 years after disturbance), alternative, were conducted by a generating a vegetation-cover map for secondary shrubs (< 15 years after four-people team, in search for bear- Sierra de Portuguesa and evaluating disturbance) and agriculture (Garcia- signs across primary and secondary Andean bear habitat availability. A Rangel 2006). Preliminary results forest cover on the Yacambú and supervised classification of 4 ETM+ showed that primary forest, and thus Terepaima NPs and the “Ecological

Figure 4 Dr Augeri and Dr Chivers visit to study site

16 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Americas Corridor” (Buckland et al 2001, Garcia Rangel 2004a, Garcia-Rangel 2006). Additionally, to estimate food availability, one vegetation plot (100x10m) selected randomly was carried out on each transect (Chapman 1976). During this year, the project had also two important visitors: Dr David Chivers (Head of the Wildlife Research Group and Project’s Supervisor) and Dr David Augeri (Coordinator of Conservation Biology at the Denver Zoological Foundation and Project’s Field Advisor) (Figure 4). Field activities and meetings with local authorities and community groups were undertaken, together with evaluations of the study design and overall field efficiency. Suggestions from both specialists were incorporated into the activities Figure 5 Field team at work B&W and later proved to be important for the main goal of the project. roads and forest edge were included ecology. New York, USA: Halsted By January 2006, all preliminary for sampling, to allow a better Press. VIII + 536. analyses were completed and understanding of the effects of human Garcia-Rangel, S. 2003. Establishing the main data collection started. disturbance on bear habitat and population size, distribution, Fieldwork was carried out from landscape-use. habitat and landscape-use of the February to December 2006, with On March 2007, the PI returned to Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) a total of 109 truncated-distance- Cambridge for data analysis. Project population inhabiting La Sierra sampling transects (500x10m) for completion is expected by February de Portuguesa, Venezuelan Andes bear-sign census, and 109 vegetation 2008. During this process, discussion First Year Report, Wildlife plots (100x10m) for food availability and advice regarding obtained results Research Group, University of estimates (Figure 5 and 6) (Buckland and statistical techniques from IBA Cambridge: Cambridge. p. 94. et al 2001, Garcia-Rangel 2007). The members are welcome and will be Garcia-Rangel, S. 2004. A study species range in Sierra de Portuguesa greatly appreciated!. design to model Andean bear was surveyed, and in addition to This project is funded by: (Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier 1825) forest-cover categories, agriculture, Fundación Gran Mariscal de habitat Sierra de Portuguesa, Ayacucho, IBA Research and Venezuela: Phase 1 in 15th Conservation Grants, IDEA WILD, International Conference on Bear The Scott Neotropical Fund from the Research and Management. San Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Iniciativa Diego, US. de Especies Amenazadas-PROVITA, Garcia-Rangel, S. 2004(a). Evaluation the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG of the distribution, habitat selection Aquarium, the Rufford Small Grants and landscape use of the Andean for Nature Conservation and The Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in Denver Zoological Foundation. La Sierra de Portuguesa, Venezuelan Andes: Progress References Report II, Wildlife Reseach Buckland, S., et al. 2001. Introduction Group, University of Cambridge to Distance Sampling: Estimating Caracas. p. 35. Garcia-Rangel, S., E. Yerena, and R. Figure 6 Andean bear clawmark abundance of biological populations. Oxford, UK: Oxford Vera. 2004. Andean bear University Press. XV + 432. distribution (Tremarctos ornatus Chapman, S. 1976. Methods in plant Cuvier 1825) in Venezuela’s Sierra

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 17 Americas de Portuguesa. in 15th others to see how we implement this International Conference on Bear Northwest USA effective outreach strategy. Research and Management. San News from the northwest Diego, US. provided by: Our objectives are to: Garcia-Rangel, S. 2006. Evaluation Rich Beausoleil of the distribution, habitat selection Bear/Cougar Specialist 1) Gauge the knowledge and opinions and landscape use of the Andean Washington Dept. Fish and Wildlife of people living, working, and Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in 3515 State Highway 97A recreating in the NCE with respect La Sierra de Portuguesa, Wenatchee, WA 98801 USA to grizzly bear behavior, ecology, and Venezuelan Andes: Progress Report Phone: +1 509-664-1227 recovery. III, Wildlife Research Group, Email: [email protected] University of Cambridge: Caracas 2) Reduce opposition to grizzly bear p. 14. recovery that is based on incorrect Garcia-Rangel, S. 2007. Evaluation North Cascades Grizzly Bear information and unwarranted fears. of the distribution, habitat selection Outreach Project (GBOP) and landscape use of the Andean Expands Activities 3) Provide opportunities for people Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in who live in or near the recovery area La Sierra de Portuguesa, Chris Morgan (M.S. Ecology) to express their thoughts about grizzly Venezuelan Andes: Progress Report Co-Director/Bear Specialist bears and recovery. V: Wildlife Research Group, Grizzly Bear Outreach Project (GBOP) University of Cambridge: Caracas PO Box 28656, Bellingham 4) Educate people to minimize the p. 10. Washington State 98228-0656, USA potential for encounters between Goldstein, I. 1990. Distribución y Tel: +1 360-734-6060 grizzly bears, black bears and humans hábitos alimentarios del oso Email: chrismorgan@insightwildlife. that result in human injury or bear frontino, Tremarctos ornatus, en com mortality. Venezuela, in Coordinacion de Biologia, Universidad Simon The North Cascades Grizzly Bear 5) Provide improved access to accurate Bolivar: Caracas, Venezuela. p. Outreach Project (GBOP) is a information about grizzly bears, black 164p. comprehensive community-based bears and the recovery process. Rodriguez, D. and A. Cadena. 1991 education project that focuses on Evaluacion y uso del habitat natural the needs of people and bears in the The GBOP began in the northern del oso andino Tremarctos North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE) half of the recovery zone and was ornatus (F. Cuvier 1825) y un of Washington State. Fewer than 20 recently expanded to the southern diagnostico del estado actual de grizzly bears remain in this 10,000 half with the addition of two new staff la subpoblacion del Parque square mile ecosystem, which was members. Nacional Natural de Las Orquideas, designated as a grizzly bear recovery Antioquia-Colombia, in zone under the Endangered Species 1) Staffing: GBOP currently has two Departamento de Biologia, Act of the USA in 1991. Although co-directors (Chris Morgan and Jim Universidad Nacional de Colombia: rural residents are quite familiar with Davis) who oversee the work of five Santa Fe de Bogota. p. 132. the common black bear, they are less field staff (Nan Laney, Dennis Ryan, Sutherland, W. 1996. Ecological informed about grizzly bear behavior, Rick Hartley, Julie Hayes, Wendy census techniques: A Handbook. ecology and recovery. Gardner) representing GBOP across Cambridge, UK: Cambridge the North Cascades Grizzly Bear University Press. XV + 336. As an independent, non-advocacy Recovery Zone. project, GBOP has been funded by multiple governmental and non- 2) GBOP perceptions and knowledge governmental organizations since surveys: in 2003 and 2005 GBOP 2002. Our strategic approach to commissioned an independent sharing accurate information about telephone survey company to conduct Washington’s North Cascades bears public knowledge and attitude surveys and grizzly bear recovery by actively regarding grizzly bears and recovery. engaging community members has The surveys exclusively focused upon received positive acclaim from a rural residents in, or directly diverse array of stakeholder groups. adjacent to the recovery zone. Support We thought it might be of interest to for grizzly bear recovery among

18 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Americas respondents (n=510) was high (79% being formed. This process permits government agency staff, and elected supportive of recovery, 54% strongly local ownership, which is key to our officials join GBOP staff for a series support, 8% strongly opposed). strategy. of bear resistant food container However, knowledge about bears was demonstrations, talks and booth limited. These comprehensive surveys 7) Slide show presentations: 130 slide events at the zoo. The next GBOP- allow us to tailor-make our program shows have been presented to a wide WPZ Bear Affair will be held in and products according to the actual, variety of stakeholder and interest April 2007. rather than perceived education groups across the ecosystem. needs. Full survey reports available 12) GBOP school curriculum and bear online: www.bearinfo.org. 8) Community events: GBOP staff trunk: the GBOP bear trunk contains have set up booths and met with comprehensive, ready-to-use, 3) Media: the GBOP has been featured numerous members of the public at curriculum-based lesson plans and in 65 press articles since late 2002, 40 community events. Events attract educational items (claws, skull, hide, including much comprehensive from 300-6000 visitors and allow for teeth, photographs, posters etc) for K- coverage. Since its launch in very effective use of staff time. 6 teachers. The trunk was developed January 2005, the GBOP Bear Smart by teachers for GBOP and launched Program (sanitation management in 9) GBOP Bear Smart Program: Bear in March 2006. We are hoping to communities) has provided several Smart was launched as a GBOP replicate the trunk for further use in vivid opportunities to promote GBOP program in January 2005 to assess other NCE communities. through the media. Two radio public potential and actual human-bear services announcements per year have conflict scenarios in six North 13) Expansion: GBOP’s success in been regularly distributed to 40 radio Cascades communities. Detailed the North Cascades Grizzly Bear stations in counties in and around the assessments of each community Ecosystem has also lead to expansion North Cascades. The announcements permitted identification of non- of the program into British Columbia focus upon ways to reduce bear- natural attractants (bird feeders, under the Skagit Environmental human conflict in and around garbage, fruit trees etc.), naturally Endowment Commission program. communities within the ecosystem. occurring bear foods, and ways to The Selkirk Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem We place great emphasis on the need minimize human-bear conflicts (full subcommittee has also expressed a to develop a positive relationship with reports available at www.bearinfo.org). strong interest in GBOP expansion to key media representatives. The Bear Smart Home recognition northwestern Montana. program includes a mail-in checklist 4) One-on-one meetings: we have of Bear Smart practices that is Many thanks to the GBOP sponsors: conducted more than 600 in-depth completed by residents in return for US Fish and Wildlife Service, one-on-one meetings with key a refrigerator magnet and window Washington Department of Fish and community members, elected officials, sticker. Community steering groups Wildlife, Seattle City Light, Secure local citizens, agency representatives, are established to meet for regular Rural Schools and Communities Self organization representatives, and the planning sessions. Determination Act of 2000, Woodland media across the recovery zone. These 10) GBOP brochures: approximately Park Zoo, Conservation Northwest, one-on-one meetings are at the core 42,000 GBOP brochures have been USDA Forest Service, Defenders of of our approach and allow us to build distributed through 140 sites in the Wildlife, Interagency Grizzly Bear long-term, meaningful relationships recovery zone – restaurants, visitor Committee (IGBC), National Park with influential community members. centers, schools, and businesses. Four Service, WildTime Foods Grizzlies The meetings result in greater trust thousand GBOP posters have been Brand, Grizzly Industrial, Canopy, and the identification of common distributed to similar outlets. Living With Wildlife Foundation, ground. Counter Assault, REI, SSC, and 11) “Bear Affair” at Woodland Park Foothills Gazette. 5) Community Groups: two GBOP Zoo (Seattle): GBOP has partnered Community Groups are in place with Woodland Park Zoo three times Grizzly Bear Outreach Project web and others are being planned. 4-7 since June 2005 for this popular site: http://www.bearinfo.org community members (from a pool of event which allows zoo visitors to 20) attend two-hour meetings every learn more about wild bears of the Cascades (one hour from Seattle) 6) weeks to discuss project strategy through a series of demonstrations and share tasks. Additional with the zoo’s captive bears. Community Groups are currently Community Group members, several

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 19 Americas Southwest USA and Mexico

News from the southwest provided by: Charity Kraft Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University-Kingsville 700 University Blvd, MSC 218 Kingsville, Texas 78363-8202, USA Phone +1 361-593-4500 E-mail: charity.bartoskewitz@tamuk. edu

Black Bears in Sierra del

Carmen Thwart Drought Subadult black bear in Maderas del Carmen, Coahuila. © B.R. Mckinney Bonnie McKinney Wildlife Coordinator clover. Without a spring green-up, & of this black bear population. bears were forced to resort to staple Jonas Delgadillo Villalobos We continue to actively work items in the diet such as sotol and Assistant Wildlife Coordinator with adjacent ranchers and ejidos yucca hearts. Despite the limited Cemex-Proyecto El Carmen on bear management. No increased food resources and corresponding P.O. Box 420608 predation on cattle, goats or other increases in movements, bears Del Rio, Texas 78842-0608 USA domestic livestock was reported even maintained very good body condition. E-mail: [email protected] though drought conditions were Spring and early summer rainfall was [email protected] severe and food sources scarce in nonexistent, measurable rainfall fell 2006. We also continue to work with in late August and September. In Drought is a dreaded word in the our international colleagues in Big the higher elevations leaves were not wildlife business, and especially so Bend National Park and Texas Park’s present on the 16 species of oaks until when you are conducting black bear and Wildlife’s Black Gap Wildlife late August, no acorns were produced research in the Chihuahuan Desert. Management Area in western Texas and most other vegetation greened up, Our study site located in the Maderas to document black bear movement seeded out and started to go dormant del Carmen in Coahuila, México has a across the international border. Near in the cooler elevations of the mixture of habitats from lower desert Muzquiz, Coahuila in the Sierra mountains by mid September. Bears elevations around 3,800’ culminating Santa Rosa range, Senator Jesus Maria continue to move greater distances in a pine-fir forest at over 9,000’. Ramon is working with El Carmen but remain in good condition. Bears utilize all the habitats, feeding on several native wildlife species; he No emaciated bears have been at lower elevations in the spring and is also committed to conservation of encountered, and we have observed a moving upward as food sources ripen. black bears that are slowly moving number of sows with 2, 3 and 4 cubs. Bears have been in excellent condition back into historic range on his ranch Overall, cubs are smaller, especially since the inception of our study in El Fortín. with sows that have 3 and 4. In late 2003. However, during 2005 and 2006 CEMEX, the owner of Proyecto September several sows were observed we were subjected to 18 months of El Carmen recently purchased more with 4 cubs and they appeared to be drought. Bears went into hibernation acreage in the Maderas del Carmen healthy, if somewhat smaller than in December 2005 in good condition, ecosystem: the project now runs normal. emerging in late March 2006 (males) contiguously from the Rio Grande to Currently, we are monitoring 37 and late April 2006 (females) in good the beginning of the Cuesta Malena. radio collared bears of all age classes. condition. Bears began normal spring Several ranches on the east side of Home range data, diet, age structure, movements in search of food sources this mountain range have joined survival, dispersal and movement in such as agrito berries, conopholis, our project to actively participate in relation to food sources are all being green grasses, and Wright’s tick wildlife conservation of all species: monitored as well as other parameters we appreciate the efforts of Rancho

20 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Americas Guadalupe, Fernando Elizondo owner, much interest in northern Mexico. use at El Carmen, which will help and Rancho Santo Domingo, the We will provide hands on training tremendously in radio tracking Paul Family owners. Currently the in capture, handling and transport dispersing black bears as well as project area in Mexico encompasses of black bears to officials from monitoring other wildlife. We over 300,000 acres owned by CEMEX the State of Nuevo Leon in early gratefully acknowledge CEMEX or private lands under conservation November. During the 2006 summer, for their continued commitment to agreements. In addition, CEMEX, the project sponsored two Mexican Proyecto El Carmen and to black bear Proyecto El Carmen and Cuenca students (Universidad de Chapingo conservation in Mexico. los Ojos teamed up and purchased and Universidad de Metropolitiana). the Adams Ranch in western Texas. Both students worked on all research This actually makes our project projects being conducted at El international particularly in relation Carmen and actively participated to black bear movement. The Adams in our black bear trapping program. Ranch joins Big Bend National Park Bear Trust International has been on the west and Black Gap Wildlife a great supporter of our project Management Area on the east. This and features it on their web page. purchase in Texas and purchases in CEMEX funds Proyecto El Carmen, adjacent Coahuila now provide more purchases available lands, funds protection of the vast ecological all in-house research, sponsors corridor reaching from far south in students, and provides necessary © Joan Skidmore Mexico to western Texas. research equipment. Recently, they Our project continues to generate purchased a fixed wing aircraft for Student Forum 1) Student forum and brainstorming c) Items can be brought with you Diana Doan-Crider, IBA Student session – scheduled toward the on your trip to Mexico, or can be Coordinator beginning of the conference, this shipped to the address listed on Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research will be a wonderful time to meet and the website under “Silent Institute get to know your IBA professionals Auction” MSC 218 over a lunch-time meal. It is also a d) Do NOT bring anything Texas A&M University-Kingsville great opportunity to present your containing bear parts (hair, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA own or learn about other student claws, etc.) because of CITES Phone: +1 361-593-5043 proposals, and get helpful advice on issues; E-mail: [email protected] the best methods and approaches. e) Do NOT bring anything Announcements will be available on containing firearms or explosives the website and on Truman. (like that cute coffee table you Viva Mexico! made for your mom using IBA Students, Get Ready! 2) Silent Auction benefiting the shotgun shells formed into the shape of a bear head) – Mexico Our upcoming 18th International Student Forum – this will be our first silent auction, and we hope it will has very strict arms laws. Conference on Bear Research & f) Funds from the Silent Auction Management promises to be one of become a tradition. Brian Schieck (Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission) will be used for student housing the best when it comes to student costs and conference activities. activities. We’re doing everything will be helping us to coordinate this possible to make your travel to event, so thanks to Brian! This is how 3) Our new “101” Series – we are Monterrey convenient and cost- it works: a) Students and IBA professionals experimenting with a series of efficient, so check out the new “101” sessions for our IBA students IBA website (see page X) for more are asked to donate regional craft items pertaining to bears (and other conference participants information! initiating bear research), and will You can look forward to the (carvings, jewelry, photos, hand- woven textiles, etc.); begin with density estimation and following student activities in genetics. These sessions will be November: b) Items should be registered via email with Brian Schieck at taught by IBA professionals, and will [email protected] be pre-cursors to more advanced

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 21 Student Forum topics on genetics and population design, and remind you that your for Statistical Analyses of Resource monitoring. experimental design IS your boat. Selection” (Journal of Wildlife 4) Student Housing It’s in the initial part of a research Management 68:1). This probably a) This year, we are providing project that will determine whether helped a lot of people. The lesson housing assistance for IBA your boat will float over the long run, we learned was to invest A LOT of student members (only) at the so putting a lot of thought into your time and effort into the planning Monterroco Hostel at http:// experimental design will be critical. stages and experimental design of www.monterroco.com/ (I What’s scary is that my current a project because there’s nothing promise, the accommodations website frenzy reminds me all too more frustrating than being close, are nice). Housing arrangements much about my graduate experience, but not close enough to cross the can be made through Diana and the rush to put everything finish line. Find a good statistician, Crider at [email protected] together before I headed out into the and talk to him/her BEFORE you We ask that only students in field. Unfortunately, our boat had start the project. If you’re looking to need of financial assistance some pretty big leaks, and by the float a boat, your statistician is your request this service – only 40 time we drifted back into port, we engineer. If your statistician warns spaces are available. realized that some serious damage you about potential flaws in a design, was done. Case in point: one of the then you might want to reconsider We look forward to seeing you there! sub-projects of our research was the technique. Not all analytical evaluating adult female black bear techniques are gospel; they may look habitat use for bears with and without pretty on the outside, but are riddled Square Holes and Round cubs. Basically, we spent hundreds with problems and assumptions that Pegs of thousands of dollars and over 2 are difficult to meet. Comb them out, This column will be brief, given years in the field delineating habitat think them through, talk with experts, that I am in a rush to get the new IBA types, and following bears equipped and then decide. Ultimately, don’t website online. It’s quite complex, and with radio-transmitters. Of course, commit the faux pas of simply doing we’re using a new web based platform we chose Compositional Analysis as something because everyone else does that can handle online membership the material we would use to build it. enrollment, conference registration, the boat, the obvious reason being Until next time! and even support GIS based maps for that it promised to spit out a nifty the Bear Specialist Group! Wow! It number if we plugged in the values, sounds wonderful, but let me talk a and well, everyone else was using it, little bit about the behind-the-scenes too. The only problem was that it perspective. Because of the tragic has a slight flaw which requires that loss of our webmaster, Scott Risteen, your animal uses all of the habitat this project came about a little sooner types because it can’t handle the than we anticipated (before, we had value of zero. Uh, big problem when about a year to work on it – but that your bears don’t use all of the habitat just recently turned into a few weeks). types, and you have a data set with Frank van Manen and I have been a lot of zeros. Our problem became scrambling furiously to meet the legal apparent when we were trying to run requirements of policy statements, the analyses after we finished our get our secure site company accounts, field work, and were working with our and make sure this boat is ready statistician, Dr. Ralph Bingham. He to sail on April 15. I feel like I’m threw a fit when we inserted values packing in a hurry for a trip around that were close-to-zero-but-not-quite- the world, and I keep wondering if I’m zero, as was recommended in a well- forgetting something. For the most known publication. As he began to part, however, the main content of experiment with the different values, the website will be ready to face the he found that the near-zero values had

public, even if we have to add new dramatic effects on the outcome. In © NPS,DeBruyn D. Terry information as we go. the end, we had to scuttle that ship What does this have to do with and not publish our work, but Ralph being a student doing bear research? did end up using our scrap metal Well, let me re-visit a previous column to write a nice publication titled that I wrote about experimental “Comparison of Type I Error Rates

22 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Are you an IBA Student? Then you need to belong to the Student Forum List Serve

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• 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

Instructions New IBA Students - • Contact Diana Doan-Crider at [email protected] to enroll Sign Up For • After enrollment, go to: http://aristotle.tamuk.edu Student List Serve (Truman) • Click on Agricultural Lists Now! • Click on Truman • Enter your email address and the password “Bears01” • Go to Create Message • 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 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 23 Student Forum has served as a consultant for a variety of organizations, from NGOs, to national governments and the United Nations. He is now developing a $1.5 Million proposal for the Swarovski Corporation and a $5 Million EU- China Biodiversity proposal to fund panda conservation work in the WWF-China Panda Landscapes. Why do I think you should keep any eye on him if you are an IBA student? Because he has the characteristics of what an IBA student needs in order to survive: he doesn’t limit himself to what everyone else does or how they do it, he knows what he wants, he’s willing to do the groundwork, and most important, he thinks really big. Thanks for being such a great example, Matt. Best wishes on your projects!

Student Forum Highlight doesn’t wait around for someone to hand him his dreams…he makes Matt Durnin them happen. On his own, he has MacArthur Foundation developed proposals to conduct Postdoctoral Fellow, wildlife research, raise the necessary California Academy of funds, and simply get the field work done. He started his work on pandas Sciences in the early 1990’s when he conducted For this Student Forum Highlight, a wildlife survey for the World I thought I would highlight someone Wildlife Fund in western Sichuan who, although not a student anymore, (Ganzi Prefecture). At that time, has set the example for many who he met Professor Pan Wenshi from follow in his footsteps. Matt Durnin Beijing University, who encouraged is best known for his work with the Matt to pursue his Ph.D. on pandas Chinese government and the Giant in the Qinling Mountains. Although Panda, but he has also become it took him several years to negotiate quite involved with the IBA as the and get the project off the ground Managing Editor for the International (which is not unheard of when Bear News. Matt received his PhD in studying bears), he found his funding 2005, and is currently a Postdoctoral through Johnson & Johnson, Inc. and Fellow at the California Academy their China joint venture company of Sciences. I wanted to highlight Xian-Janssen, and completed the Matt because of his initiative and task. He spent more than three years creativity, and his sense of what it in the field in Wolong managing takes to achieve a goal. I imagine field teams conducting research on that he has probably had his share giant panda ecology and behavior. © Joan Skidmore of challenges, especially working in He then began to focus on the use China. However, it is apparent that he of molecular genetic techniques in isn’t discouraged by a few hindrances combination with more traditional here and there… If someone gives you field techniques (e.g. critical habitat a lemon, make lemonade. When the mapping and field identification of Chinese government says you can’t habitat use) to collect data and answer use radio telemetry to study Pandas, questions regarding the species. Matt you use genetics. In a nutshell, Matt

24 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Bears in Culture To prove they’re eating well. Country Gentleman And when it is cold, he sleeps Harmless in his dreams, it seems. Linsey Duncan But walk into his house uninvited 1766 N 2050 W And he’ll break his repose

Provo, UT 84604, USA © Joan Skidmore With an uncivilized growl. Phone: +1 801-377-5442 But like a good gentleman, Email: [email protected] Hard on his luck, He’ll not disturb the world with A predator, no, an omnivore His hunger Gentled. Gentled by fat Until the winter economy takes a drop, And a lumbering, head down walk. The spring bounces back All fluff and softness and meandering. Bear of leisure strolls. And tender deer and ant burgers Can easily forget he can run His speed seldom used. Are in style again. Faster than any man born. He snuffles and wanders – he does not The floppy lipped jaws Group with other bears to pull down a Not like bears? Could sooner despise A thickened dog’s muzzle. moose. An amiable businessman or Wet, snuffling, curious. Too much effort. He is a connoisseur, not Well-to-do lounger. The claws massive, but blunted. A butcher. They’re massive, well-meaning bumblers. Can imagine he could catch a pillow A celebrator of food. Chewers, gnawers, In his hands, do it no harm. No lean, fierce energy burns in him. With a broad ponderous skull. And he can—his paws are almost hands He is a gentleman, not an athlete Could sooner hate a great-uncle He can stand upright like a man. And gentlemen have respectable paunches Or a magnanimously chubby king. Publications

Ursus Volume 18(1) 2007 Status of the brown bear in Pakistan • Ecology and Demography Management Muhammad Ali Nawaz Effects of hunting on demographic Influence of mast production on Status of Asiatic black bears in parameters of American black bear non–hunting protected areas of Nepal and the black bears • Sophie M. mortalities in West Virginia • effects of political turmoil • Czetwertynski, Mark S. Boyce, and Christopher W. Ryan, James C. Cynthia H. Stubblefield and Fiona K. Schmiegelow Pack, William K. Igo, and Anthony Mahendra Shrestha Billings Dietary and spatial overlap between The Endangered Species Act and the sympatric ursids relative to salmon Using sign at power poles to document distinct population segment policy use • Jennifer K. Fortin, Sean D. presence of bears in Greece • • Tatjana Rosen Farley, Karyn D. Rode, and Charles Alexandros A. Karamanlidis T. Robbins Dionisios Youlatos, Stefanos Distinct population segments and Sgardelis and Zacharias Scouras grizzly bear delisting in Genetics and Nutrition Yellowstone: a response to Rosen • Spatial response of American black Sterling Miller Matrilineal genetic structure of the bears to prescribed fire in brown bear population in Finland • northwest Florida • Marty R. Short Communications Urmas Saarma and Ilpo Kojola Stratman and Michael R. Pelton A preliminary density estimate for Determination of bamboo-diet Perspectives, Essays, and Andean bear using camera digestibility and fecal output by trapping methods • Boris Ríos giant pandas • Julie A. Sims, Reviews Uzeda, Humberto Gómez and Jennifer l. Parsons, Heidi A. Bissell, Going into the 21st century: a Robert B. Wallace Robert S. Sikes, John R. Ouellette, perspective on trends and and Brian J. Rude Genetic resolution of composition controversies in the management and phylogenetic placement of the of the American black bear • Hank Isabelline bear • Gary J. Galbreath, Hristienko and John E. McDonald Jr. Colin P. Groves, and Lisette P. Waits

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 25 Publications Richardson E., Stirling I., Kochtubajda Recent Bear Hwang M.-H., Garshelis D. L. 2007. B. 2007. The effects of forest fires Publications Activity patterns of Asiatic black on polar bear maternity denning bears (Ursus thibetanus) in the habitat in western Hudson Bay Central Mountains of Taiwan Polar Biology. 30(3):369-378 Richard B. Harris Journal of Zoology. 271(2):203-209 Ursus Editor Tan X.M., Tang Y., Yang Y.F., Song 218 Evans Peacock E., Peacock M. M., Titus K. H.M., Zhang Y.Z. 2007. Gene Missoula, Montana USA 59801 2007. Black bears in Southeast cloning, sequencing, expression Alaska: the fate of two ancient and biological activity of giant Tanya Rosen lineages in the face of panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Bard Center for Environmental Policy contemporary movement. Journal interferon-a. Molecular Bard College of Zoology 271(4):445-454 Immunology. 44(11):3061-3069 Annandale-on-Hudson New York, 12504, USA Peng J., Jiang Z., Qin G., Huang Q., Li, Zedrosser A., Bellemain E., Taberlet P., Y., Jiao Z., Zhang F., Li Z., Zhang Swenson J.E. 2007. Genetic Dixon J., Oli M., Wooten M., Eason J., Lu Y. 2007. Impact of activity estimates of annual reproductive T., Mccown, J.,Cunningham M. space on the reproductive success in male brown bears: the 2007. Genetic consequences of behaviour of giant panda effects of body size, age, internal habitat fragmentation and loss: the (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in relatedness and population density case of the Florida black bear captivity. Applied Animal Journal of Animal Ecology. 76 (Ursus americanus floridanus). Behaviour Science. 104(1-2):151-161 (2):368-375 Conservation Genetics. 8(2):455-464 Communications how their collective efforts represent Interagency Grizzly “one of the most compelling success stories since the inception of the Bear Committee Endangered Species Act”. Nominated “2006 Recovery Champions” Employment On January 16, 2007, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Bear Trust International (http://www. announced the selection of the beartrust.org/), a wildlife nonprofit Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee located in the Rocky Mountain as the “2006 Recovery Champions” region, is looking for a part-time for the work and efforts put in the executive director to help with the recovery of the Yellowstone grizzly organization’s continued growth. bears. The Service created this Position may develop into full- award to recognize the exceptional time with the successful candidate. qualities and abilities of individuals Resumes to: Executive Director and organizations engaged in Search, PO Box 1304, Sequim, WA recovery efforts of species listed 98382 under the US Endangered Species Act. In the announcement the Service © Djuro Huber also recognizes the contribution of the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and the Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator in the recovery of the Yellowstone grizzlies; the Service acknowledges

26 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Events

18th International Conference on Bear Research and Management

November 4-10, 2007 Monterrey, Mexico Website Change: http://www.bearbiology.com

COORDINATOR: Diana Doan-Crider Caesar, Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute MSC 218, Texas A&M University- Kingsville Kingsville, TX 78363-8202 USA Phone: +1 361-593-5043 Fax: +1 361-93-4892 or 3924 Email: [email protected]

COLLABORATORS: David G. Hewitt Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute MSC 218, Texas A&M University Kingsville Kingsville, TX 78363-8202 USA Email 2: [email protected]. with UNESCO’s Universal Phone: +1 361-593-3963 mx Forum of Cultures (http://www. Fax: +1 361-593-3924 Email 3: [email protected] monterreyforum2007.org/), which Email: [email protected] will take place September-December, 2007. Though Monterrey is Mexico’s Rodrigo Medellin L. Summary of Important 3rd largest city, it is beautifully Centro de Ecología, Universidad Dates: situated at the head of the Sierra Autónoma de México Conference Dates: November Madre Oriental mountain chain. Apartado Postal 70-275 4-10, 2007 Monterrey is located only 2 hours 04510 México, DF; MEXICO; BSG Groups: November 10, south of the U.S. border, and rests Phone: +52-5-5622-9042 2007 in the Tamaulipan thornscrub/ Fax: +52-5-5622-8995 Abstract Submissions: Begins Chihuahuan desert at approximately Email: medellí[email protected]. February 1, 2007, closes May 800 m above sea level. The Sierra unam.mx 1, 2007. Madre dramatically rises up to pine/ Travel Grants: Begins April 15, oak forests at 2000 m within 1 mile of Ing. René Hernández Sáenz (Director) 2007, closes September 14, 2007. the city’s edge. November was chosen & Early Registration: Begins April 15, for the conference because of the Biol. Héctor Villalón Moreno 2007, closes October 15, 2007. greater potential to see bear activity Parques y Vida Silvestre de Nuevo and experience pleasant weather León; Paris # 343, Col. Mirador LOCATION conditions (Centro) Several key bear areas are within C.P. 64070, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, has been a 1-hour drive of the city. Due to México chosen as the site for the 18th habitat encroachment, an increasing Tel & Fax +81 8342-3283 International Conference on Bear bear population, and possibly drought- Tel & Fax +81 8343-0005 Research and Management, to be related bear movements, reports of Email 1: rhernandez.pvsnl@prodigy. held November 4-10, 2007. The bears and bear-human conflicts have net.mx IBA conference will coincide

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 27 Events been increasing. Interest in bears is high, both publicly and within Registration & Travel Grants management agencies. Bear research Facilities & Transportation Early registration will begin Monterrey is a progressive city, and management in Mexico is an issue April 15, 2007, via secure website and facilities are ideal for the IBA’s that has recently received attention at or fax (forms downloads are on the conference needs. Monterrey has both the state and federal level, but an website). Late registration begins an international airport with 250 active conservation strategy is lacking. October 16, 2007. Early registration daily direct flights from Mexico This conference will bring attention to will be available and encouraged. City, Dallas, Houston, New York, bear conservation at a crucial turning Registration fees are: Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, and point, and will encourage Mexican Los Angeles. We have secured biologists to seek training in the area • Regular: $250 USD (Late: of bear research and management. conference discounts for Continental $325 USD) and American Airlines (see website). • Developing Country (see list More information on connecting on website): $200 USD (Late flights from Europe and South Conference Program $225 USD) America can be viewed at http://www. The conference begins on Sunday • Students: $100 USD (Late ocvmty.com/. We will be providing evening, November 4 and ends $125 USD) services such as language translation on Saturday, November 10. Bear (Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Specialist Groups and student Travel grant applications can others), field trips, assistance with workshops will meet on Saturday, be downloaded from the website immigration permits, and logistics. November 10. Plenary sessions beginning April 15, 2007. Deadline The host hotel for the conference is will focus on a variety of topics; for submission of travel grants will the Holiday Inn-Parque Fundidora; special workshops will cover density be on September 14, 2007. All Travel group rates have been secured at $110 estimation, genetics, bear safety Grants will be handled in U.S. Dollars, USD/room (single and double rates). awareness, and bear handling. Please and arrangements will be made The conference hotel is connected see the website for an updated to facilitate check cashing on the to the 350-acre enclosed conference program schedule. conference premises. site, which also contains a large eco-

28 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 Events Please sign up for field trips on your registration form. For late sign-up of field trips, please contact Diana Crider at [email protected] directly. The conference site is close to the historic downtown area, as well as natural and scenic areas. The Coordinating Committee will assist conference participants in arranging travel for those wishing to visit other natural areas and parks of Mexico before or after the conference.

Workshops and Meetings Website information regarding this conference has been re-directed to www.bearbiology.com (see the President’s message related to the new IBA website).

EXPO OSO!

We are hosting an exhibition of bear-related crafts and equipment for park, museums, and family areas, direct flights to Mexico (via Mexico the duration of the conference. The and is conveniently located close to City) for travelers from Asia / Europe, exhibition center is 6,300 square feet, banks and great restaurants. Other thus avoiding U.S. immigration adjacent to the conference meeting nearby hotels have been secured at requirements. Travelers temporarily rooms, and highly accessible to $59/room, including continental landing in the U.S. en route to Mexico conference participants and visitors. breakfast, and are within a 15 minute may need to apply for a C-1 Transit Poster sessions will also be held in walk or a 5 minute taxi ride. Less Visa (see links on the website for more this room. There will be no charge expensive hotels & hostels ($20-45.00 details). for booth rental, but spaces must be USD/night) are within a 5-minute Transportation to and from the reserved by October 1, 2007. Mexico metro or taxi ride of the park. Due to airport will be provided. Please see does charge duty for the import the UNESCO Forum activities, hotel the website for further details on this of consumable products. Import/ arrangements should be made at your Export information can be found on service. earliest convenience. See the website the website. Contact Diana Crider for hotel information. at [email protected] for more Field Trips information.more Special housing and transportation will be provided for students needing Field trips will include the Chipinque National Park, the Sierra assistance with lodging. Corporate A Silent Auction benefiting los Picachos, and Cumbres National sponsorship is expected to cover the Student Forum will be held expenses for some conference meals, Park (black bear study areas). Other during the conference; funds will field trips, and special events. We outdoor attractions close by include be used for student housing costs will have direct communication Garcia Caves, Horsetail Falls, and and conference activities. Students with the Mexican Consulate the Mina Archeological Area. Bird- and IBA professionals are asked to and U.S. Embassy to ensure that watching includes a large population donate regional craft items pertaining immigration procedures go smoothly of red-fronted parrots and migratory to bears (carvings, jewelry, photos, for conference participants. Any songbirds; Monarch butterflies may hand-woven textiles, etc.). Items air travel into Mexico will require a also be migrating along the Sierra should be registered via email with passport. U.S. citizens do not need Madre during early November. Field Brian Schieck at Brian.Scheick@fwc. a passport for ground travel until trip fees are $10 USD to cover lunch. state.fl.us. Items can be hand-carried January 1, 2008. We recommend to Mexico, or can be shipped to the

International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 29 Events address listed on the website under “Silent Auction”. Please take note of 10th Western Black 2007 Captive Bear special restriction on imports. Bear Workshop Husbandry and Welfare Symposium Spring 2009

The 10th Western Black Bear The 2007 Bears Informational Workshop will be hosted by the Exchange for Rehabilitators, Zoos, and Nevada Department of Wildlife in Sanctuaries’ (BIERZS) Captive Bear the Reno/Tahoe area, Spring of 2009. Husbandry and Welfare Symposium Please feel free to send suggestions is tentatively scheduled for August or on a theme, comments on past September of 2007. workshops, or any other information you feel is important. Exact dates are Co-Chairs: Else Poulsen and Jordan to be determined, but we are hoping Schaul to avoid conflicts with other pertinent conferences. Contact Carl Lackey at Updates will be posted on www. We look forward to seeing you there! [email protected] or +1 775-720- bearkeepers.net/bierzs.htm 6130.

30 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 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$______ Tax Deductible Contribution to IBA Bear Conservation Fund. US$______

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International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 31 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

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Thank you for completing the survey. Please tear out and mail or fax! 32 International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 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 $45.00 *40% discount for 3 or more volumes, except Ursus 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17 Less 40% discount (-$ ) 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 8th 2005 Montana 2003 $15.00

 Safety in Bear Country Videos Please fill legibly! form out Staying Safe in Bear Country with Public Performance Rights $69.00 Staying Safe in Bear Country & Working in Bear Country $129.00 with Public Performance Rights 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)

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International Bear News May 2007, vol. 16 no. 2 33   IBA Officers & Council

Harry Reynolds, President ‡ Andrew Derocher ‡ Michael R. Vaughan ˆ PO Box 80843 Department of Biological Science Virginia Cooperative Fairbanks AK 99708, USA University of Alberta Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Phone: +1 907-479-5169 Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada 148 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 780-492-5570 Blacksburg VA 24061-0321, USA Fax: +1 780-492-9234 Phone: +1 540-231-5046 Piero Genovesi, Vice President Email: [email protected] Fax: +1 540-231-7580 for Eurasia ˆ Email: [email protected] INFS-National Wildlife Institute Isaac Goldstein ˆ Via Ca’ Fornacetta 9 Wildlife Conservation Society Koji Yamazaki ‡ I-40064 Ozzano Emilia BO, Italy PO Box 833 Zoological Laboratory Phone: +39 051 6512228 IPOSTEL Merida Ibaraki Nature Museum Fax: +39 051 796628 Estado Merida, Venezuela 700 Osaki Email: [email protected] Phone: +58 414-7176792 Iwai-city, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan Email: [email protected] Phone: +81 297 38 2000 Karen Noyce, Vice President Fax: +81 297 38 1999 for Americas ‡ John Hechtel ‡ Email: [email protected] Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1201 East Highway 2 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 4 Diana Doan-Crider (non-voting) Grand Rapids MN 55744, USA Palmer AK 99645, USA IBA Student Affairs Coordinator Phone: +1 218-327-4432 Phone: +1 907-746-6331 King Ranch Institute for Ranch Fax: +1 218-327-4181 Fax: +1 907-746-6305 Management Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] MSC 137 Texas A&M University-Kingsville Joseph Clark, Secretary ‡ Djuro Huber ˆ Kingsville TX 78363-8202, USA U.S. Geological Survey University of Zagreb Phone: +1 361-593-5407 Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty +1 361-593-5401 KRIRM Office University of Tennessee Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb Fax: +1 361-593-5404 274 Ellington Hall Republic of Croatia Email: [email protected] Knoxville TN 37996, USA Phone: +385 1 2390 141 Phone: +1 865-974-4790 Fax: +385 1 244 1390 Matthew E. Durnin (non-voting) Fax: +1 865-974-3555 Email: [email protected] International Bear News Editor Email: [email protected] California Academy of Sciences Ole Jakob Sørensen ‡ Ornithology and Mammalogy Frank van Manen, Treasurer ‡ Nord-trondelag University College 875 Howard St. U.S. Geological Survey Faculty of Social Sciences and Natural San Francisco CA 94103, USA Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory, Resources Phone: +1 415-321-8369 University of Tennessee Box 2501 Fax: +1 415-321-8637 274 Ellington Hall N-7729 Steinkjer, Norway China Phone: +8 13701063064 Knoxville TN 37996, USA Phone: +47 74112052 Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 865-974-0200 Fax: +47 74112101 Fax: +1 865-974-3555 Email: [email protected] Richard B. Harris (non-voting) Email: [email protected] Ursus Editor 218 Evans Missoula MT 59801, USA Phone & Fax: +1 406-542-6399 Email: [email protected]

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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 fund- ing, knowledge of geographical areas, or expertise in scientific or non-scientific sectors.

Deadline for the August 2007 issue is July 5, 2007 printed with soy-based ink on 100% recycled, post-consumer waste paper