SEOUL, May 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Asiatic black bears at Mount Jiri, the tallest mountain in mainland South Korea, recently emerged from winter hibernation, the environment ministry said Thursday.
Currently, there are 86 bears residing on the mountain, including seven cubs that were born this year.
Asiatic black bears tend to avoid contact with humans. If visitors adhere to designated trails on the mountain, the chances of encountering bears are slim.
An analysis of GPS tracking data collected from 2013 to 2022 revealed that only 0.44 percent of the bears were observed within 10 meters of trails.
Additionally, 2.86 percent were seen within 100 meters of a trail, while 61.43 percent were observed within 1 kilometer, indicating that bears are more active away from the trails.
The ministry cautioned that female bears with cubs are highly protective and require careful attention.
Image Credit: Korea National Park Service / Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
