Two eggs from a clutch laid by a golden thread turtle, which is endemic to the Neiliao Wetlands (內寮濕地), hatched on Saturday, a sign that conservation measures to boost the species’ population is starting to bear fruit, volunteers in the area said.
April last year was a sad time for conservation efforts, as a female turtle seeking a suitable place to lay her legs was run over by traffic, Keelung Wild Birds Society president Shen Chin-feng (沈錦豐) said.
The accident prompted society volunteers to place traffic signs near the wetlands’ entrance to warn drivers of turtles crossing the road, a first in the nation.
Photo courtesy of Keelung Wild Birds Society president Shen Chin-feng
The baby turtles that hatched on Saturday were taken by society volunteers for observation, and would be released back to the wild when deemed suitable, Shen said.
The society had thought that the clutch of eggs were unfertilized, because the last time the volunteers had checked, all the turtles in the wetlands seemed to be female, Shen said.
We are glad to be proven wrong, Shen and other volunteers said, adding that the society has redoubled its efforts to care for the turtles and drive off wild dogs and other animals.
Photo: Lu Hsien-shou, Taipei Times
While the turtles are found in higher numbers in Taiwan than elsewhere and are not considered endangered or protected under the law, they are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Shen said.
The local population of golden thread turtles has gradually declined due to the increasing population of red-eared sliders — a species that has invaded many areas after being released by pet owners.
The number of golden thread turtles might drop further if conservation measures are not taken, Shen said.
The group urged drivers in Keelung’s Anle District (安樂) to be mindful of the traffic signs and slow down for the turtles, which might be roaming about the streets.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS