The Formosan black bear was listed as an endangered species under Taiwan's Culture Heritage and Conservation Law in 1989. They are also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), banning all international trade of any products derived from the species. However, illegal hunting and destruction of the bear's habitat have still continued to threaten the bear's existence. The natural life span of Formosan black bears is 25 to 30 years.od.