First reproduction confirmed
|
In
2004, there was no contrasted data of a possible female with cubs
in the workspace, but such information could not be reliably
ascertained, until January 2005 when through the transect routes,
we could detect the presence of a female bear accompanied by at
least one cub born the year before. |
 |
The first footprint discovered
of a cub
accompanying its mother showing that reproduction was a fact in the
Valley |
|
This data was very revealing to understand what was happening in
the territory, because it verified that area, was being intensely
hunted by poachers, placing traps, which induced to us to think
that in fact, reproduction was possible , but cubs didn’t get to
survive and for that reason weren’t detected.
At this point the work consisted on neutralizing poachers an
eradicating the territory of traps, which evidently greatly helped
with the reproduction of new females and cubs in these areas.
The harsh reality of this intense poaching also showed up in the pictures
taken by the automatic cameras set up in the area. At least three
bears, some of them females, showed bodily signs of having been
caught in traps, fortunately escaping, but how many didn’t manage
to escape? |
|
An interesting case has been that of the female Zara, who had
been caught in a trap, escaping, but later becoming trapped in a
fence
After fitting her with a collar and a transmitting device, she
was released. Soon she got rid of the transmitting device and
only with the automatic cameras was it possible to check the
progress of this bear that was close to starving to death. |
Thanks to the conservation measures and others , she not only
survived, but gave birth the following year. |
 |
These are the reproduction data in Municipality of Proaza:
|
Year |
Number of females bear in age of reproduction
|
|
| 2003 |
0
females bear of breeding age |
|
|
|
2004
|
1
females bear of breeding age
|
 |
|
2005
|
0
females bear of breeding age
|
|
|
2006
|
2
females bear of breeding age
|
|
|
2007
|
1
females bear of breeding age
|
|
|
2008
|
1
females bear of breeding age
|
|
|
2009 |
3
females bear of breeding age |
|
|
Until december 2009 |
4
females bear of breeding age |
|
Actually in 2010, it is predicted that there will be 1 or 2 female bears
of breeding age in the area, which would mean a remarkable improvement of
the situation of the Dun Bear in this territory
|
|
One of the three bears that reproduced in the
municipality of Proaza,
in 2009, accompanied by at least one of its cubs.Many times
the cameras are not able of taking pictures of all the cubs. |
|
|
|
|
|
How
many bears use the territory?
Until 2009,
identifying bears
has been done with the data obtained from the strategic routes,
complemented with automatic cameras that make it possible to
determine with greater reliability the number of cubs with a
female, or determine their survival until they are two years old and
become independent of their mother.
Every year a certain number of bears are
detected,
and we can consider that they are those that occupy the territory.
The difficulty is knowing how those bears move. The reproductive
females must have few displacements, but it seems that this is not
true, although to confirm it, we must continue working in this area.
We are certain of the large movements of this males, for this
reason, it’s no wonder that the number of bears seems to be too many
in relation to the size of the territory and to the actual
population that we have at global level
Lets take a reference the year
2009, where
26 specimens were distributed as follows: |
|
|
During
2009, with the financial support of Obra
Social Caja Madrid,
the first DNA analysis was done by the Veterinarian University
of Zaragoza, through its
Laboratory
of Cytogenetics
directed by Professor
Victoria
Arruga.
This it a highly regarded and prestigious laboratorys,
specialized in DNA analysis of wild fauna.
Samples taken during 2007, 2008 and 2009 were analyzed, and
FAPAS are continuing with the study, so the field work will be
completed
with
the scientific support of the DNA analysis of bear samples.
Of all the interesting results, we have to emphasize
that
the analytical interpretation determine that the population
of bears in this territory ,
coming
from a precarious situation, denominated “bottle
neck”, has evolved favorably and possesses a good
genetic variability.
In fact, it seems that the present population in the territory
in some of the periods of collection of DNA samples, comes at
least from nine different females.
Continuing with DNA analysis
is
crucial to assess how the local population is composed, and
learn how it moves, because it seems that female Dun Bear in
mating season, make shorter trips than males, in other nearby
territories like Belmonte and Somiedo, where we can also find
a good dun bear population.
For all samples analyzed during the three years of work, we
could clearly identify 34 different specimens, which is an
amount considerably higher than the results obtained by other
sampling methods. This situation is comparable to other
observations made in other territories where the Dun Bear also
live.
|
Recently, the results in Montana (EEUU) using genetic analyses,
doubled the number of specimens, compared with other methods of
control (National
Geographic October 2009).
Sponsor:
|
|
THE KEY CONSERVATION ISSUES |
|
1. From the work done so far, it appears that several factors
have determined the recovery of Dun Bear numbers in these
areas.
2. On one hand, the control of poaching and guaranteeing the
absence of traps at least in the principal bear areas.
3. On the other hand, we consider the guarantee of the
survival of the cubs born each year, a key factor. Avoiding a
high mortality rate in cubs, guarantee a rapid recovery of the
population, as happened in this area- |
We must not minimize the importance of social sensitivity. An area
where people want it to be known as The Valley of the Bear,
responds to a
social incentive, which undoubtedly will provide a greater security
for the specie.
The
bear has contributed to the valley economy and has been a driving
force behind social development in the local area. It has not
interfered in other activities like cattle farming, hunting,
tourism so its presence does not find any rejection. |
CONCLUSIÓN
|
With great satisfaction we can say from FAPAS, that the objective
of recovering the Dun Bear in one part of these territories, at
least in the
municipality
of
Proaza,
has been achieved, and that’s an opportunity for other
territories that have good ecological conditions for recovering
this specie.
In parallel, the presence of bears in areas with lot of human
intervention, demonstrates the adaptability of this species to
different circumstances, land and environmental requirements.
Maybe it's time to demystify that the bear is a biologically
complex species and demanding from the ecological point of view.
Its presence, and stability in this central part of
Asturias
and in territories such as the
municipality
of
Oviedo,
are evidence the adaptation capacity of the bear , whose needs
appear to be less demanding than what were expected.
Refuge , security and food,
are three key issues easy to find in many
territories,
even outside of the Cantabrian mountains, if there is any interest
to conserve or recover bear number again in the territories where
they used to live.
Everything
is a matter of wills, and the bear makes it easy for us. |
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