Taiwan's Black Bear
by Lily Chang · Oct 2026
The Formosan black bear is the biggest land animal in Taiwan. It has thick black fur and a white or yellow mark on its chest. The mark looks like the letter V, or a new moon. Many people see this bear as a of Taiwan.
These bears live high in the mountains, in deep forests far from cities. They are good climbers, and they often rest in trees. Their food changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, they eat young plants, fruit, and insects. In autumn, they eat lots of nuts and get fat for the cold months.
Sadly, there are not many black bears in the wild today. New roads and farms take away parts of their forests. Some people also set for wild pigs, and bears sometimes step into them by . A bear with a hurt foot can't climb well, and it can't find enough food. Without help, it may not .
Today, many people are working hard for the bears. Scientists follow some bears with special cameras and learn about their lives. Park workers take away old traps. Animal doctors take care of hurt bears and send them back to the forest.
What can students do? Learn about the bears, and tell your friends and family about them. On mountain trips, never leave food or trash on the trail. Bears with a taste for human food often end up in danger near people. The black bear needs a wild home, and we all must that home together.