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16 September 2021 An apparent case of infanticide in the Asiatic black bear in Japan
Hiroo Tamatani, Amelia Hiorns, Toshiaki Yamamoto
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Abstract

Despite being well-researched in several other bear species, the act of infanticide has yet to be documented in Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus). We captured video footage of an apparent infanticide event in May 2016 using sensor cameras placed outside the winter den of a known female in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. We observed the presence of a known male outside the den, interacting with the female and her offspring. The female ultimately died and her body did not appear to have been consumed by the male bear. From our observations we considered both sexually selected infanticide and nutritional demand as possible motives behind the male's attack.

Hiroo Tamatani, Amelia Hiorns, and Toshiaki Yamamoto "An apparent case of infanticide in the Asiatic black bear in Japan," Ursus 2021(32e16), 1-6, (16 September 2021). https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-20-00019.2
Received: 19 June 2020; Accepted: 18 December 2020; Published: 16 September 2021
KEYWORDS
Asiatic black bear
Breeding season
infanticide
Japan
Nagano Prefecture
sensor camera
Ursus thibetanus
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