Comparison of status of brown bear, Ursus arctos, between in the Kunashiri Island and in the Shiretoko peninsula

Abstract

Status of brown bear, Ursus arctos, in the Kunashiri Island has been poorly reported in Japan, because the Kunashiri Island is one of the area with territorial problem between Japan and Russia. We estimated minimum numbers of brown bears per survey distance in the Kunashiri and in the Shiretoko peninsula study areas. They were 1.29 (individuals/km) in July 2000 in Kunashiri, 0.075 and 0.096 in July and October 1992 in Shiretoko, respectively. Numbers of feeding signs and feces per survey distance were 2.4 (sites/km) in July on the Kunashiri, 1.2 and 1.4 in July and October on the Shiretoko, respectively. These indicate that the brown bear density in Kunashiri is higher than that in Shiretoko. We propose a strategy for the conservation of brown bear on the Kunashiri Island.