The sugar apple harvest is arriving in Taitung County and prices are stable. Yet there are reports from Longchang Village in Donghe Township that the harm caused by Formosan macaques is getting worse. Farmer Lin Te-yi says that two groups of monkeys have attacked his orchard and “rushed the harvest,” causing him to lose as much as half of it. Lin says that no method has proven effective in getting rid of the monkeys, and that he is at his “wit’s end.”
Lin’s orchard lies at the foot of the mountains along Highway 11. A frustrated Lin says that he has grown sugar apples for more than 20 years, and that the harm caused by monkeys never used to be this bad. He says that perhaps the monkeys have had nothing to eat due to the cold weather this year and instead come down from the mountains to have sugar apples “for all three meals of the day.” He says it will take a lot of work to clean up the orchard, which is strewn with fruit peels and the bags used to protect the trees after the monkeys wreaked havoc.
Liberty Times, translated by Perry Svensson
台東縣鳳梨釋迦進入產期,外銷價格也穩定,不過東河鄉隆昌村卻傳出台灣獼猴危害越演越烈,農友林德義說,他的果園被兩批猴子上下夾攻「搶收」,損失達五成,各種去除猴子的方法試了都不見成效,真不知該怎麼辦。
Photo: Chang Tsun-wei, Liberty times
照片:自由時報記者張存薇攝
林德義的果園在省道台十一線旁靠山邊,他無奈的說,種釋迦廿多年,之前猴害沒這麼嚴重,今年可能因為天氣冷,山上的猴子沒東西吃、紛紛下山,「照三餐採釋迦」,滿果園都是被猴子肆虐後剩下的果皮、套袋,不但沒得採收、整理起來還要費人工。
(自由時報 記者張存薇)
A: Taiwanese-language pop singer Jody Chiang is finally staging a comeback after having “turned off the microphone” for nine years. B: Yeah, she’s set to perform for the National Day celebration at the Taipei Dome this Saturday. A: As the best Taiwanese-language singer, it would be a big loss if she continued her hiatus. B: Recently, Chiang revealed that she quit singing in 2015 due to cancer. A: That’s shocking. But it’s great to see her healthy and able to turn the mic back on again. A: 台語歌后江蕙「封麥」9年後,終於即將復開唱了。 B: 對啊她本週六將參加國慶晚會,在大巨蛋開唱。 A: 江蕙可是最棒的台語歌手,如果不唱歌太可惜了。 B: 她最近才透露,其實2015年是因為罹癌才會「封麥」。 A: 真是令人震驚!能再看到她健康地「開麥」太好啦。 (By Eddy Chang,
A: Apart from Taiwanese-language pop diva Jody Chiang’s comeback, South Korean girl group (G)I-dle is also performing in Taiwan this weekend. B: I know. They have concerts at the Taipei Arena on Saturday and Sunday. A: Actually, to meet their fans’ high demand, they’ve added one more show on Friday. B: They’re even adding a show? That shows how popular they are. A: My favorite group member is Taiwan’s Susan Yeh, known by her stage name “Shuhua.” Let’s go cheer her on. A: 本週末除了江蕙復出,南韓熱門女團(G)I-dle也將開唱唷。 B: 我知道,他們本週六、日將在小巨蛋開唱。 A: 應粉絲的要求,他們本週五還會加場。 B: 還加場?不愧是韓流人氣女團。 A: 我最喜歡台灣團員葉舒華!我們快去幫她加油吧。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a great example of how art can be combined with environmental conservation. __1__ on the ocean floor of the Caribbean Sea, this aquatic gallery was the brainchild of British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006. The park features sculptures that function as man-made coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life, thus forming a strikingly beautiful __2__. The sculptures are placed in a way that diverts visitors from nearby natural reefs. This creative approach to ecological preservation demonstrates how art can inspire, educate, and contribute to the sustainability of our environment. The
City life moves fast, and escalators are a lifesaver for busy commuters. __1__ It is widely believed that this practice keeps traffic flowing smoothly and avoids congestion. While on the road, drivers of slower vehicles are required to remain within the outside lane so that those traveling at faster speeds may pass in the inside lane. Similar to traffic lanes that separate vehicles driving at different speeds, this convention on escalators allows for both efficiency and courtesy. __2__ This system reflects an unspoken understanding that facilitates shared use of the space. However, the city of Nagoya, Japan, has