See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318988031 Dismantling the “wall of death”: emergency bear snare-line patrol in the Nam Kan National Protected Area, Lao PDR Article · January 2012 CITATIONS READS 2 443 2 authors: Lorraine Scotson Matt Hunt Saola Foundation for Annamite Mountains Conservation Free the Bears 34 PUBLICATIONS 314 CITATIONS 33 PUBLICATIONS 288 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Bear snaring in Lao View project University of Minnesota group paper View project All content following this page was uploaded by Lorraine Scotson on 13 March 2019. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group November 2012 Vol. 21 no. 4 © WWF Germany Brown bears roam Armenia dodging borders, bullets, and backyards. To learn more about this project funded by WWF Germany, see page 38. IBA website: www.bearbiology.org Table of Contents Council News Americas 3 From the President 7 Nevada’s First Black Bear Hunt Considered 4 IBA Management Committee Update A Success 6 Research & Conservation Grants 8 Creating a Metabolic Map to Assess 6 Summary information on the R&C grants Potential for Range Expansion of American offered and accepted in April 01. Black Bears 7 Changes to IBN Article Submissions 31 Louisiana Black Bear Response to the Flooding of the Morganza Spillway in May Experience & Exchange Grantst 011 8 Experience and Exchange Grants: 35 Conservation needs for Andean bear in Applicants Wanted! Cordillera Azul National Park, Department 10 Experience and Exchange Grant Aids Bear of San Martin, northern Peru Sign Surveys in Lao PDR Eurasia Bear Specialist Group 36 The Bears of the Central Alps in Italy: 1 Exchanging Roles in the Bear Specialist Where We Are Group 38 Brown Bears in Armenia 1 World Conservation Congress Votes to Curtail Bear Farming Student Forum 17 Dismantling the “Wall of Death”: 40 Truman’s List Serve Emergency Bear Snare-line Patrol in the 41 Student Highlight: Jennifer Fortin Nam Kan National Protected Area, Lao PDR Publications 19 Development of a Conservation Action 4 Recent Bear Literature Plan for Taiwan Black Bears 22 A Preliminary Assessment of the Diet of Events Brown Bears in Central Zagros, Iran 45 Human-Bear Conflicts Workshop 4 The Survival Vortex for Syrian Brown Summary and all Presentations Now Bears in the Central Zagros, Iran Available Online 6 Short Sun Bear Education Documentary 45 21st Eastern Black Bear Workshop Available Online! Announcement 45 2013 IBA Conference–Provo, Utah International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564, quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) Editors: Tanya Rosen Michel (Managing Editor), Jennapher Teunissen van Manen (Layout & Design), Jim Tomlin (Distribution & Proofing) Distribution: 1965 Charline Manor Road, Olney, MD 083 USA, Phone: +1 415-31-8369, Fax: +1 415-31-8637 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 regional correspondents by email are preferred; otherwise, mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject, and edit submissions. Regional Correspondents: Alaska: Steven Kovach, Email: [email protected] Western US and Canada: Jennapher Teunissen van Manen, Email: [email protected] Eastern US and Canada: Jared Laufenberg, Email:[email protected] Central and South America: Marco Enciso, Email:[email protected] Europe and Central Asia: Tatjana Rosen, Email:[email protected] Zoo and Captive Bear Organizations: Jordan Schaul, Email:[email protected] Bear Specialist Group: Dave Garshelis, Email:[email protected] All other submission and/or inquiries: Tatjana Rosen, Email:[email protected] Deadline for the February 2013 issue is 5 January 2013. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted – Do not reproduce without permission. Membership Information and Publication Ordering Go to www.bearbiology.com to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information. International Bear News November 2012, vol. 21 no. 4 Council News From the President Frank T. van Manen U.S. Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 37 University Way, suite Bozeman, MT 59715 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] It’s been a whirlwind summer settling into a new job routine here in Montana but everything is gradually falling into place. It has been enjoyable to explore new wildland territory for work and recreation and I’m constantly reminded of how lucky I am to live and work in the Greater Yellowstone Area. It also reminded me of how different bear management and conservation challenges are for different species and for different regions of the world. With our upcoming 1st International Conference on Bear Research and Management in India, IBA will be paying par- ticular attention to conservation challenges in Asia. Challenges there are notably different from those in Europe or North America. Unquestionably, in Asia one of the greatest and immediate challenges for bear conservation, and wildlife conserva- tion in general, is the illegal trade in animal products. Complex global forces of supply and demand are at play in this illicit business, which can even affect wildlife populations on other continents. Various socioeconomic forces create a demand for animal products in Asia, including traditional medicine and increasing wealth for some segments of Asian societies. In the case of ivory, a recent investigative article in National Geographic Magazine also exposed surprising connections to the market of religious carvings and amulets. That article also highlighted the failure of the international community and international legislative bodies to recognize these forces and respond effectively. Recent news about poaching of 7 one- horned rhinoceros from one of India’s premier national parks (Kaziranga National Park) in 1 week and frequent reports of tiger poaching further emphasize the daunting challenges faced by local wildlife enforcement officers. Several Asian bear species join this list of vulnerable species, most notably the Asiatic black bear. One can easily be- come discouraged; securing the future of bear populations in Asia will require a huge commitment of funding and effort to gather reliable scientific data with which effective conservation plans can be developed and implemented. Fortunately, there are several developments that should give us hope. First, the IUCN recently adopted a resolution (http://portals.iucn. org/01motions/?q=M-07), sponsored by our colleagues from Alertis in the Netherlands, that calls for phasing out of bear farming in 4 of 5 countries where bear farming is practiced, often involving bears taken from the wild. Importantly, that mo- tion also called for scientific monitoring to track the status and trends of wild populations of bears and identify factors that influence those trends. Secondly, much progress has been made recognizing the importance of community involvement. For example, the custom of bear dancing in India has been largely eliminated in recent years by improving the livelihoods of the nomadic Kalandar people by supporting alternative income opportunities for families and providing children with access to education. This means fewer bears are taken from the wild. Given the formidable challenges to bear conservation in Asia, these types of incremental successes provide our best hope to secure a future for these bear populations and the people that live among them. However, with many organizations working on different conservation angles, a concerted and coordinated scientific approach is essential. As IBA, we are committed to assist with this by (1) organizing conferences that promote science-based decision making and coordination and collaboration among researchers and managers from many different countries and institutions, () providing Research and Conservation grants with funding from IBA’s Bear Conserva- tion Fund (for a list of supported projects see http://www.bearbiology.com/index.php?id=bcf), (3) disseminating important information through our scientific journal Ursus and our newsletter, and (4) working closely with the IUCN Bear Specialist Group. Indeed, the program of the 1st IBA conference in New Delhi reflects that commitment. The conference organizers have prepared an excellent program with scientific sessions dedicated to bear conservation in India, trade in bears and bear parts, community participation, bear rescue and rehabilitation, bear-human interactions, and population monitoring (for conference program see: http://www.indianbears.com/indianbears/ModuleFiles/DCPH/FckFiles/file/IBA%0Conference%0 Programme.pdf). We hope to see many of you in India! IBA on Facebook! With the help of Diana Doan-Crider and Jennapher Teunissen van Manen, IBA now has a Facebook page. Our intention is to provide news articles and links to relevant web sites and other resources of interest to IBA members.