Abstract
We reviewed the implementation of the Specified Wildlife Conservation and Management Plans (SWCMP) for the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Iwate prefecture and discussed its issues and future strategy. Asiatic black bears inhabit almost all regions of Iwate Prefecture, and the population is a large part of the overall black bear population in Japan. Nuisance kills have gradually increased since the 1980’s because of increasing agricultural damage and human injuries. Accordingly, the prefecture made a SWCMP for the Asiatic black bear in 2003 with the aim of coexistence between humans and bears. Monitoring subjects of the plan are the investigation of killed bears including biological traits, agricultural damage and human injuries, home range surveys with radio telemetry, acorn and beechnut production, and population trend and size. As for the problem of monitoring subjects, it was difficult to estimate accurate bear population size and previous population size was possibly underestimated. A monitoring system focused on neighboring prefectures with respect to each local population is needed. Recently, many bears have been wandering into human communities. We appreciate an approach that calls on the local community to prevent conflicts, such as weeding the areas surrounding the village and/or proper disposal of fruit waste.
