**2. Study area**

bear physiology, and human activity [2]. If it is possible to detect bear occurrence pattern, intensive management action can be planned where and when bears occurred frequently.

In this chapter, using our cases in Oze National Park (Oze NP), we propose how to establish the plan for the bear management using sighting reports. This method we used can be applied in most national park, because sighting reports are not only collected easily and economically

Two hikers each are injured in the Ozegahara in 1999 and in 2004. Both of these incidents occurred at same spot (**Figure 1**) and about 8 o'clock in the morning in early June. Thus, these incidents may have similar background, and it should be revealed to discuss a proper bear

Firstly, we will discuss whether the bears in Oze NP are habituated or not. If bears habituated to human or artificial food, these bears are called "nuisance bear," and the risk of conflict between bear and human will be higher [2]. Since prompt action is essential to manage habituated bear, at least one trained staff must be ready at any time in months bears frequently occur. As a result, the larger number of trained staffs is needed than for nonhabituated bears. Thus, firstly the presence of nuisance bear must be detected. In Oze NP, food habit study of the Asiatic black bear revealed that the bears do not use artificial food at all [3]. Besides these studies, we analyzed reactions of bears when they noticed visitors and evaluated the presence of nuisance bear. Secondly, by analyzing pattern of occurrence of the bears, we discuss on proper staff assignment. In order to decide assignment of staffs, the area where bears frequently occur needs to be determined. Although bears occur anywhere in Oze NP, frequently sighted sites were limited and

but also supposed to have already collected in most national parks.

management plan in Oze NP.

76 National Parks - Management and Conservation

**Figure 1.** Study area.

This study was conducted in the Ozegahara, Ozenuma Lake and surrounding area of Oze NP (**Figure 1**). Ozegahara is the largest area of moorland in Honshu or the South of Japan, measuring 6 km from northeast to southwest and 2 km from northwest to southeast, with a total area of 7.6 km2 located at an elevation of 1400 m. Ozenuma Lake is 1.8 km2 at 1665 m elevation. The area receives heavy winter snow, with mean annual precipitation of 1972.5 mm and a mean maximum snow depth of 342 mm. January is the coldest month, with a mean monthly temperature of −6.5°C, and August is the warmest, with a mean temperature of 17.5°C, according to climate data measured from April 2006 to March 2010 at the Yamanohana Meteorological Station (elevation 1405 m).

Ozegahara consists of fen and marsh, with a raised central bog and transition moorland (valley bogs) in peripheral areas [4–7]. The raised bogs are dominated by *Sphagnum* spp. and cranberry *Vaccinium oxycoccos*. The fens and marshes are dominated by several types of reed communities, and *Phragmites* and *Moliniopsis japonica* communities tend to dominate the transition moorland. Riparian forest extends along streams and rivers in the moorland and provides cover and a corridor for wildlife. Several forest types occur in the area, with

**Figure 2.** The number of people visit in Oze National Park each month. The number of hikers is from unpublished data provided by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

The Oze area is celebrated as the "origin of nature conservation in Japan." A dam construction project was undertaken in 1919, but local residents and plant ecologists opposed its construction from the outset, and the plan was finally aborted in 1996. This was the first development project to be halted for nature conservation in Japan. The Oze area has been protected since then and is one of the most famous national parks in Japan, with about 300,000 visitors annually. Blooming skunk cabbages are one of the main attractions for visitors to Oze NP. Many hikers visit in late May to the middle of June to enjoy the scenery of skunk cabbages flushing

Establishment of Management Plan by Sighting Reports of Asiatic Black Bears…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73313

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Ozegahara and Ozenuma Lake are designated as special protection areas within the Oze NP and are registered as special Japanese natural treasures and as important international wetlands with the Ramsar Convention. Visitors are restricted to boardwalks to prevent damage to the habitat. Asiatic black bears in the Oze area were hunted by local people until the 1970s; however, they have been subsequently strictly protected by several laws. The park includes 16 lodges, and garbage and waste are managed to prevent environmental damage. Hikers frequently sight Asiatic black bears eating grasses on the moors in June following snowmelt and eating spadices of skunk cabbages from June to August (Oze Preservation Foundation unpublished data; **Figure 3**).

We used data of 574 sighting reports gathered from 2004 to 2009 in Oze NP (**Figure 3**, **Table 1**). Using a questionnaire form, we gathered information about (1) the behavior of bears, (2) the place where bears are frequently sighted, and (3) the month when they are sighted. We interpreted frequent sighting as higher possibility of occurrence of conflicts between bears and visitors. Analyzing reaction of sighted bears, the nature of the bears in Oze NP was decided.

Data was collected by interviews and questionnaires. We made the inquiry form and asked witness, including hikers, volunteers, and staffs of visitor centers and hiking lodges to fill the form, and when witnesses come to visitor centers, staffs interviewed them according to the questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about the place where bear was, time, distance to bear, characteristics of bears (size, number, and body feature such as the presence of white patch on the chest), countermeasure of hikers, and bear reaction against witness for each sighting. To distinguish whether bears are habituated or not, bear reactions were reviewed. We excluded reports when distances between bears and witnesses were longer than 30 m, because even if a bear noticed hikers at a large distance, the bear may not show any behavior. Cases were excluded if reactions of bears were not documented and if possibility that bear did not notice witness was high. If the bear did not show any avoiding behaviors, sneak to hiker, or threaten

If bears occurred and would not move away from the place where distance from wooden board was less than 30 m, and even if they noticed hikers, bear management staffs close the trail and try to make the bears learn to avoid humans by chasing away or using firecrackers.

The cases with such management actions were included in the problematic response.

Fixed kernel method is used to detecting where the bears are frequently sighted.

hiker, we determined it as a problematic response.

(Ministry of the Environment of Japan published data; **Figure 2**).

**3. Methods**

**Figure 3.** The number of yearly and monthly sighting reports from 2004 to 2009. The number of bear-sighting information is from unpublished data provided by the Oze Preservation Foundation.

the dominant species being *Ulmus davidiana var. japonica*, *Betula ermanii*, *Larix kaempferi*, *Salix bakko*, *Aesculus turbinata*, and *Pterocarya rhoifolia* [5, 6, 8]. The surrounding mountains are high enough to have a timberline and support alpine communities such as *Pinus pumila* scrub. The mountain slopes in the subalpine zone consist of *Abies mariesii* at high elevations and beech (*Fagus crenata*) forests in the foothills (1400–1600 m in elevation) [6, 8].

The Oze area is celebrated as the "origin of nature conservation in Japan." A dam construction project was undertaken in 1919, but local residents and plant ecologists opposed its construction from the outset, and the plan was finally aborted in 1996. This was the first development project to be halted for nature conservation in Japan. The Oze area has been protected since then and is one of the most famous national parks in Japan, with about 300,000 visitors annually. Blooming skunk cabbages are one of the main attractions for visitors to Oze NP. Many hikers visit in late May to the middle of June to enjoy the scenery of skunk cabbages flushing (Ministry of the Environment of Japan published data; **Figure 2**).

Ozegahara and Ozenuma Lake are designated as special protection areas within the Oze NP and are registered as special Japanese natural treasures and as important international wetlands with the Ramsar Convention. Visitors are restricted to boardwalks to prevent damage to the habitat. Asiatic black bears in the Oze area were hunted by local people until the 1970s; however, they have been subsequently strictly protected by several laws. The park includes 16 lodges, and garbage and waste are managed to prevent environmental damage. Hikers frequently sight Asiatic black bears eating grasses on the moors in June following snowmelt and eating spadices of skunk cabbages from June to August (Oze Preservation Foundation unpublished data; **Figure 3**).
