The Ministry of Environment and Korea National Park Service (KNPS) announced that one male Asiatic Black Bear captured in Jirisan National Park in September was confirmed to be a new individual of the species after genetic analysis. Accordingly, a total of 39 Asiatic Black bears are living in the wild at Jirisan National Park.
The newly identified individual is a three-year-old male weighing about 60kg, whose father is confirmed to be RM-19 released in Jirisan in 2005. His mother shows different gene type compared to individuals in existing Jirisan Asiatic Black Bear family tree, so the mother bear is estimated to belong to the first generation of natural delivery, whose genetic information is unknown.
KNPS assumed that the newly confirmed individual is highly likely to be part of the grandchildren generation of individuals released into the wild.
As it has become difficult to catch and track all individuals with the increasing number of Asiatic Black Bears, KNPS identified individuals through genetic analysis by extracting DNA from hair roots or excreta of individuals.
Database of 52 Asiatic Black Bears that live or used to live in Jirisan is established through genetic analysis. Out of 52 individuals, seven bears that did not hang transmitters are confirmed to belong to parent generation after genetic analysis.
Nine individuals whose genetic information is not yet identified as the mother bear were all born in the wild. Transmitter cannot be attached to newly born cubs until they grow seven to eight months with mother bears, so it is difficult to track and capture individuals during this period.
KNPS expects that the Asiatic Black Bear Restoration Project will be carried out in a more scientific and effective manner by incorporating genetic analysis in the entire project from introduction, release to monitoring of individuals.
“We will expand the restoration of Asiatic Black Bear to the Northern region along Baekdudaegan, a key ecological corridor, based on accumulated management methods,” said Song Dongjoo, president of KNPS Species Restoration Technology Institute. “Through successful restoration of Asiatic Black Bear, we hope to contribute to enhancing Korea’s biodiversity and conserving the ecosystem,” he added.