hankyoreh

BY Lee Keun-young, Senior Staff Writer

A Manchurian black bear native to the Korean Peninsula that was released on Mt. Jiri gave birth to two male cubs in January, the Korea National Park Service announced Sunday.

　The bear was born to a North Korean mother at Seoul Grand Park in 2007 and donated to the Species Restoration Center, which released it on Mt. Jiri in 2008. This marks the first time a bear born in South Korea has given birth after mating with a bear that had been released from captivity.

　The cubs were discovered when researchers with the center heard their cries while changing a tracking device on the mother bear in January, which falls in the hibernation period for bears. The two measured 25 cm in length and weighed 600 grams the center reported.

　With this, the number of Manchurian black bears on Mt. Jiri grows to 25, including six cubs born in the wild. Bears released on the mountain have given birth every year since 2009, for a total of eight cubs, two of which died.

　Jeong U-jin, head of the center‘s restoration research team, explained, “It was very likely the mother bear who gave birth this time was going to have babies because her range was found to overlap with that of male bears in June to August of last year, which was the mating period.”

Jeong explained that mother bears typically mate at the age of around four and consume sufficient nutrients in the fall before giving birth during their hibernation period. They may also abort if they determine that they have not gotten enough nutrients.

　Species Restoration Center head Kim Jong-dal explained, “Bears are very sensitive after giving birth, and when they experience major stresses, it can have an impact on the survival of their young.”

　Kim asked hikers and local residents to avoid making loud noises and using side roads.

　Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]