Abstract
The last Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) on Kyushu Island was captured in Oita Prefecture, in 1987. No capture or absolute evidence of inhabitation by the bear has been reported since that time. Consequently, the bear is thought to be extinct on Kyushu. Although the bear captured in 1987 was believed to be wild, it may have migrated from elsewhere. We sequenced the mitochondrial DNA control region of the bear to ascertain its origin. Comparison of the haplotype with a previous phylogeographical analysis indicated that the bear had a haplotype found in eastern Fukui and western Gifu prefectures (the middle part of Honshu Island). We conclude that the bear was either transported to Kyushu from the middle part of Honshu or was descended from a female that was transported from that region.
