page_title: Formosan black bear
section_title: Hunter and hunted
hierarchical_section_title: Formosan black bear / Hunter and hunted
caption_attribution_description: 中文（台灣）‎: 2017臺北世界大學運動會吉祥物「熊讚」與陽明山國家公園遊客。 English: "Bravo" and visitors in Yangmingshan National Park.
context_page_description: The Formosan black bear, also known as the white-throated bear, is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. It was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. Formosan black bears are endemic to Taiwan. In 2001, they were voted the most representative wildlife of Taiwan in a half-year-long countrywide voting campaign. They are also the largest land animals and the only native bears in Taiwan.
  Because of severe exploitation and habitat degradation in recent decades, populations of wild Formosan black bears have been declining. This species was listed as "endangered" under Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Act in 1989. Their geographic distribution is restricted to remote, rugged areas at elevations of 1,000–3,500 metres.
context_section_description: Formosan black bears (台灣黑熊) and Formosan clouded leopards (台灣雲豹) — two of the most powerful land animals on the island of Taiwan — used to roam over the ranges and mountains of Taiwan. However, while the leopard is now extinct, the bear, though endangered, has survived. According to research by the Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, this may be due to the myths and traditional taboos of Taiwanese aborigines.
  Bunun people call black bears Aguman or Duman which means the devil. If a Bunun hunter's trap accidentally traps a bear, he has to build a cottage in the mountains and burn the body of the bear there. He also has to stay in the cottage alone away from the village until the millet harvest is finished. Rukai and Paiwan people are allowed to hunt bears, but the hunters have to pay the price of carrying the ancient curse in return. Rukai people believe hunting bears can result in disease. Also, not every one is allowed to eat bear meat, and children are strictly forbidden to do so. In Taroko (Truku) legend, Formosan black bears are respectful "kings of the forest" whose white marks on their chests represent the moon. The Taroko people believe that killing black bears results in family disaster. In general, among these hunting tribes, hunters of boars are respected as heroes, while hunters of bears are considered losers.
caption: Mascot of Formosan Black Bear @ Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei, Taiwan
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