After 15 difficult years, the population of Formosan sika deer in Kenting National Park has risen to more than 1,500, a major success in the country’s efforts to conserve the endemic species.
The number of Formosan sika deer has grown from 22 in 1986 to 1,500 in 2006, thanks to a breeding project initiated by the Kenting National Park Administration in 1994.
The Formosan sika deer is one of the 13 subspecies of sika deer scattered mostly around Southeast Asia.
It is bigger than other members of the Sika family.
The wild animal, which thrived in hilly areas around Taiwan prior to the late 19th century, was an important economic resource for Aborigines and early migrants.
The population declined sharply in the early 20th century, however, because of excessive hunting for its skin and antlers as well as human encroachment.
Formosan sika deer were probably extinct in the wild by 1969 and could only be seen at zoos or private ranches.
READY: The CGA said it closely monitored China’s maritime exercise, deployed vessels to shadow the Chinese ships one-on-one and set up emergency response centers Chinese navy and coast guard ships have returned to China, signaling the end of a massive maritime exercise, authorities said yesterday. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) released images it said showed Chinese vessels sailing north in rough seas past Taiwan on Thursday, on their way to China. “All the Chinese coast guard went back to China yesterday, so although they have not officially made any announcement, we consider it over,” CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said. Beijing has not confirmed the drills and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not say whether the maneuvers had taken place when asked at a
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Upon its completion next year, the new Tamkang Bridge (淡江大橋) in New Taipei City is to be an important landmark in Taiwan, alongside Taipei 101, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said today. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in December next year and open to the public in the first half of 2026, connecting New Taipei City’s Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts. It is an asymmetric single-tower suspension bridge, nearly 70 stories tall, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. The bridge aims to alleviate traffic in Tamsui and on the Guandu Bridge (關渡大橋), in addition to increasing the
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