• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the location and prospects of the bear shelves built by Asiatic black bears in the Jirisan National Park. Previous researchers have been analyzed bear shelves in terms of places for resting and eating, but we are going to analyze based on the prospect-and-refuge theory. Characteristics of the sites of bear shelves are measured through field survey and topographic analysis by using digital elevation model (DEM). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to evaluate the optimum location of bear shelves in terms of crown density. Man-made objects are identified by viewshed analysis based on geographical information system (GIS). Findings of this paper can be summarized as follows. First, most bear trees are located deep inside of the mountainous national park, slopes of 30~40 degrees, altitude of 400~1,200m, and relatively low vegetation density with NDVI value of 0.4~0.6 compared to the average NDVI of the park. Second, the average height of bear shelves is 12.44m, or 74% of the average height of bear trees. They are located at suitable places to observe nearby trails and other park facilities. Third, man-made objects within the 100m radius of bear trees include lodge, bear training center, beekeeping camp, and hiking trails. Thus we may temporarily conclude that one of the main criteria of the bear tree selection in the park has been to identify optimum places for the monitoring of human activities in their habitat.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2007

Asiatic black Bear(Ursus thibetanus ussuricus) cubs aged one or two were introduced from Russia(Primosky krai) and North Korea for reinforcement of the bear population and they were released to grow wild in Jirisan National Park. We did research on the characteristics of the denning sites of the Asiatic black cubs, which were released before, from Oct. 2004 to Apr. 2006, and the results were as follows: The released bears hibernated in three types of dens,; tree hollows, rock hollows or ground nests. The hibernating sites were dominated by a community of oak trees and its location was at an average of $923{\pm}221m$ height above the sea level ; the average slope incline was $25.9{\pm}7.9^{\circ}$, and the average denning duration was $98{\pm}9$ days. It was analyzed that the cubs' denning site was $2.8{\pm}2.8km$, on an average, far from the release point; $2.0{\pm}0.9km$ far from villages; $1.9{\pm}1.7km$ far from park inspection trails, and $1.9{\pm}1.0km$ on the average far from a driveway. It is assumed that environmental attributes of the denning sites were closely correlated to those of the release points.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2019

The amputation of body parts of wild animals can affect their activities in the wild and the behavior of mothers raising their cubs can cause behavioral characteristics in their offspring. In 2017, an Asiatic black bear was caught in a snare at the Jirisan National Park and had a right forefoot amputation. It was released into the wild the same year and gave birth to two cubs. The seasonal analysis of the behavioral rites of five females who gave birth in the same year as this individual showed specific home ranges, activity altitudes, and movement distances compared to other populations. Physical disabilities in the mother could lead to difficulties in food activity, hibernation, and cub-rearing, but the bear's maternal instincts helped to overcome difficulties in the wild and ensure the cubs' survival. It also became a special experience in the process of promoting the restoration of Asiatic black bears at Jirisan National Park. Although the Asiatic black bear's cubs, which grew up in difficult conditions compared to other populations, are not currently causing problems, continuous monitoring will help determine the success of the disabled mother cub-rearing study. Furthermore, these case studies will be used to establish long-term management directions and plans for conflicts with people from various perspectives.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2007

DMZ (De-Militalized Zone) in South Korea is world heritage area by passage control of human-being for more than 50 years since 1953. Wild flora and fauna in these area have been protected from any development and/or habitat destruction. However, consideration on ecosystem and nature in the area is becoming higher, and demand for development is raising also. We have reviewed any publications, which are surveyed about ecosystem and interview local residents about wildlife inherit there. Totally 51 species have been reported inhabited DMZ belonging to 17 Families, 6 Orders, so far. National monuments in DMZ are following; Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), KOREAN goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus), flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) and spotted seal (Phoca vitalima). These results would be an essential data to establish management strategy and manuals for conserving native ecosystem, native flora and fauna in DMZ, and also using for registering world heritage area under UNESCO.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.306-313
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• 2019

It is important to identify the most suitable anesthetic agent that has minimal side effects to be able to control and perform surgeries on bears. In this study, we examined and compared the induction and recovery times as well as the physiological changes occurring during anesthesia induced by medetomidine-zolazepam/tiletamine (MZT) and xylazine-zolazepam/tiletamine (XZT) at general anesthesia for laparoscopic salpingectomy in 326 female Asiatic black bears. The body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and levels of PaO₂ and EtCO₂ were the physiological changes measured during surgical procedures in female bears after anesthesia. In addition, the levels of pO₂, pCO₂, and sO₂ were measured using a portable blood gas analyzer. To induce recovery from anesthesia, bears anesthetized with MZT were intravenously administered atipamezole and bears anesthetized with XZT were intravenously administered yohimbine. The combination MZT, at dosages of 0.019 ± 0.001 mg/kg for medetomidine and 1.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, or the combination XZT, at dosages of 2.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for xylazine and 3.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for ZT, proved to be reliable and effective in anesthetizing Asiatic black bears for a 40-min handling period for routine clinical procedures. The average anesthesia induction times were 16.5 ± 0.95 min for the bears in the MZT group and 12.0 ± 0.44 min for those in the XZT group. A significant difference was noted between the two drugs (P < 0.001) in terms of the average anesthesia induction time. The anesthesia induction time was shorter for bears with lower body weights than those with higher body weights (P < 0.05). The recovery time of MZT was significantly faster than that of XZT (11.3 ± 0.45 min vs. 18.5 ± 0.83 min) (P < .001). The bears anesthetized with MZT exhibited lower cardiopulmonary suppression than those anesthetized with XZT (P < 0.05). The body temperatures and EtCO₂ of bears in the M ZT group were significantly lower than those in the XZT group as time progressed after anesthesia (P < 0.05). The average pO₂ before the bears were supplied with oxygen was 64.8 ± 3.7 mmHg, but it increased to 211.5 ± 42.5 mmHg afterwards (P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results indicate that bears anesthetized with MZT have longer anesthesia induction time, shorter recovery time, slower heart and respiratory rates, and lower body temperatures and EtCO₂ than those anesthetized with XZT. These findings suggest that XZT is preferable to MZT, warranting further research on its uses and clinical responses in bears.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.536-543
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• 2008

This study was carried out to review the satisfaction with compensation for damage caused by the released Asiatic Black Bears into the whole area of Jirisan National Park and to offer basic data for reasonable conflict management with local community. A questionnaire survey was conducted from Jun. 2007 to Dec. 2007 on 93 subjects who got their compensations for the bear damage from 2004 until 2007. The results stayed at a middle level of satisfaction with the proper damage indemnity program with as mean $3.14{\pm}0.85$ points on the basis of 5 point scale. The satisfaction with compensation was found to have a significant correlation with the factors, such as income levels, whether to agree to restoration project, compensation money and compensation procedures. The compensation plan through the Animal Damage Compensation Consultation Committee was accepted positively(mean: $3.3{\pm}0.9$); however, to the compensation plan for the 80% compensation of actual amounts of bear damage, was acknowledged negatively(mean: $2.6{\pm}1.11$).

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.497-505
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• 2019

Winter hibernation in wildlife is a unique physiological mechanism for survival. For Asiatic black bears (ABBs, Ursus thibetanus ussuricus), hibernation is a very important but dangerous time for the cubs to be born. This study surveyed ABBs living in Mt. Jiri To examine the relationship between the temperature during hibernation and the hibernation days. The survey found that the average start and end dates of hibernation was December 7 and April 20, respectively. The average day of hibernation for females who gave birth was $167.8{\pm}22.6$ days. The average temperature of 5 days before hibernation was $0.6{\pm}4.1^{\circ}C$, the average temperature during hibernation was $1.3{\pm}2.43^{\circ}C$, and the average temperature of five days before the end of hibernation was $12.6{\pm}3.1^{\circ}C$. The hibernation days of the females that did not give birth to cubs and the males were $120.4{\pm}25.7$ days and $113.6{\pm}25.8$ days, respectively. The average temperatures of 5 days before hibernation was $2.1{\pm}4.2^{\circ}C$ and $-1.8{\pm}3.9^{\circ}C$, respectively. The average temperature during hibernation was $-0.2{\pm}1.6^{\circ}C$ and $-0.4{\pm}2.4^{\circ}C$. The average temperatures of five days before the end of hibernation were $7.8{\pm}3.6^{\circ}C$ and $7.8{\pm}4.4^{\circ}C$. These results indicate that females giving birth to cubs have higher hibernation days and average temperatures than the females that do not give birth and the males, which is due to the process of raising cubs during hibernation. The hibernating days and mean temperature for the groups in each lifecycle did not show any difference between the groups. This study is meaningful in that it disclosed the characteristics of hibernating intrinsic behaviors of ABBs. It observed the specific hibernation period and temperature of ABBs bears inhabiting in Mt. Jiri and examined the difference by sex, female(giving birth) and life cycle group according to temperature. The results of this study can be used to prevent the conflict between ABBs and humans in winter and spring and establish the preservation management plan.