First dispersal event of a reintroduced Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Korea

Abstract

Once reaching maturity, individuals of most mammal species typically disperse towards suitable habitats, adequate to their ecological requirements. If the habitat has reached saturation for carrying capacity, these individuals may disperse further to find adequate habitat. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) has been reintroduced on the Korean Peninsula since the early 2000s, and is now considered successfully reintroduced. The population size in the Jiri Mountain National Park, where the species has been reintroduced, has reached about 56 individuals, and for the first time a young male has dispersed a significant distance outside of the national park. The individual was caught and released within its home range before dispersing again. Our research highlights the dispersal pathway followed by the individual, the landscapes crossed, and the public reaction to this dispersal event.