Coral spawns make Kenting’s waters resemble a starry night sky

Coral spawns make Kenting’s waters resemble a starry night sky

2025-04-22

It’s spawning season for corals in Kenting. The event usually occurs after the third full moon in the traditional Chinese calendar, which also coincides with Mazu’s birthday. Since Saturday evening, corals in the region have been releasing their gametes into the water, making the depths of the ocean resemble a starry night sky.

Various species of corals are spawning all at once, making it quite a sight to behold. But due to their fragile nature, it’s best to watch the event via the Kenting National Park’s livestream. Divers who want to see the spectacle in person, are reminded to keep lighting to a minimum.

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珊瑚產卵季登場墾丁漆黑海底"變幻粉紅色星空"

2025-04-22

每年農曆3月下旬，也就是媽祖生日前後，是墾丁珊瑚產卵的季節，今年墾丁的珊瑚產卵，從19日晚上開始登場，多種珊瑚接力產卵，漆黑的海底宛如星光般璀燦。

腦紋珊瑚，角菊珊瑚，軸孔珊瑚等，接力大爆發產卵，粉紅色的卵在海中漂浮，宛如下雪，異常美麗。墾管處同步也與潛水團隊合作，直播這場每年如約而至的盛會，也呼籲想潛水看珊瑚排卵的遊客要遵守低光害原則。

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Students make stop-motion of leaping whale from secondhand clothes

To improve students’ awareness of environmental issues, Caohu Middle School in Changhua worked with the artist Wu Cheng-fu to make a 1,000 square meter image out of 10,000 secondhand clothes. In the scene, a humpback whale, white dolphins, and other sea creatures were captured in stop motion by a drone flying overhead, to stunning effect.

White dolphins and a humpback whale leap through the air! This artwork was created at Caohu Middle School in Changhua’s Fangyuan Township under the guidance of landscape artist Wu Cheng-fu.

Using 10,000 items of secondhand clothing, the students spend three days arranging this maritime scene over an area of about 1,000 square meters.

Student
When we were making it, our teacher told us all about marine waste. It showed me how much damage we’re doing to the oceans when we throw things away like this.

Student
I’d never realized before that you could make an ocean scene out of old clothes. So I think it’s super cool.

The activity helped students care more for the environment. Wu said that in his concept, blue is the beauty of the earth and red is war. With the large amounts of waste polluting the environment, the oceans are bearing the brunt of it. There are less than 100 white dolphins left searching for a chance at life. A humpback whale leaps toward the heavens, but is unable to escape and falls back to earth.

Wu Cheng-fu
Artist
Among so much marine waste, clothing fibers are in the top 10. For this, we collected about 10,000 discarded items of clothing. With this unwanted clothing or sheets from students and residents, we’re giving it new life.

Lin Hsin-wei
Caohu Middle principal
The students arranged the secondhand clothes very well. They’re also putting into practice the concepts of reuse and recycle.

After finishing their project, they held a clothing swap. By incorporating the ideas of sustainable development, this artwork hopes to keep the beauty of the earth alive.

#sustainability #artwork #Changhua #Caohu #stopmotion #secondhandclothes #recycle #reuse #WuChengfu

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2025-04-22

National Geographic Taiwan photo contest calling for entries

If you want to put your photography skills to the test, now’s the perfect time. The 2025 National Geographic Taiwan photo contest is now open and calling for entries until July 15! This year, there’s a new mobile phone photography category. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the details.

Vivid pictures of Taiwan’s wildlife and picturesque landmarks weave a captivating narrative of the island’s rich story. Want to pitch in too? The 2025 National Geographic Taiwan photo contest is now open for submissions. Renowned Taiwanese director Ke Chin-yuan, along with fellow photographers, offers advice and encourages people to submit their applications.

Ke Chin-yuan
Taiwanese director
In the Ecological Sustainability category, I have been encouraging everyone to tell stories with photos. Secondly, if your images, a group of five to ten photos, are inspiring, or convey information that is consistent with modern trends, you will have a better opportunity to win.

Liu Chen-Hsiang
Photographer
Photography has many aspects. It comes from observation. Observation is, of course, very important. For example, if you are responsible for documenting, you are observing. But there are many images that you must also direct and take control.

The 2025 National Geographic Taiwan photo contest is now accepting entries. Works can be submitted in several categories: “People,” “Places,” “Nature,” “Ecological Sustainability,” “Youth Group,” “Bird,” and "Phone." In addition, submissions have been expanded to allow those under 18 to participate for free. Christian Ziegler, a famous photographer from National Geographic, will come in September to speak at a forum.

Lee Yung-shih
National Geographic Taiwan
Nowadays, everyone has a mobile phone, which are excellent photography tools. We encourage more people to get involved. This year, we are also hosting a dedicated photography workshop for teenagers and hope to see increased participation from young enthusiasts.

The National Geographic Taiwan photo contest is now in its ninth year. Photographers can submit their entries until July 15.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Car crashes into 7 teens on school cycling tour

Around 300 tenth-graders enrolled in Kang Chiao International School’s Xiugang Campus witnessed a nightmarish incident on the ninth day of their round-the-island cycling tour. On Tuesday morning, as the group passed through Changhua’s Pitou Township, a car crashed into them, injuring seven of them. The most severely injured student was made minimally conscious and put under intensive care. The driver that caused the accident claimed he was trying to pick up something from the floor of his car, which took his eyes off the road.

A group of young cyclists rides on the side of the road when an orange car comes in their way.

Bangs and screams burst out as they collide.

Ambulances arrive on scene, to a row of scattered bikes. Schoolkids cry in pain on the asphalt. Some are even bleeding from their head.

Voice of witness
We asked them to dispatch three or four, but after the ambulances came, it was clearly not enough, so there were about 10 in the end.

A 15-year-old student who was at the very front of the line is critically injured.

Chang Shang-wen
Changhua Christian Hospital spokesperson
The head and neck areas are severely traumatized. His vital signs are currently stable, but he only has a score of 3 on the coma scale. His treatment will continue under intensive care.

Other six affected highschoolers are, fortunately, fully conscious, but suffer injuries of various degrees. The driver that caused them injury claimed the accident happened because he was picking something up from the floor of his car.

Wang Yuh-shih
Changhua Police Department
The driver that instigated the incident, surnamed Hsiao, is now under arrest as a person quasi in flagrante delicto. We’ve filed the case with the Changhua District Prosecutors Office for investigation.

These students of Kang Chiao International School in New Taipei were on the school’s annual round-the-island cycling trip for their tenth-grade students. Launched 16 years ago, the school intends the trip to be a rite of passage for their 16-year-olds.

Carol Chen
Kid attends Kang Chiao
The trip has been done for many years now. Many months ago, they’ve sacrificed their Sundays to practice cycling up and down slopes, as well as very long-distance on a flat surface.

What was supposed to be a 12-day grand tour for the kids made for an unforgettable experience in the worst way possible.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Pigeons carry bamboo tube home in traditional Chiayi race

The pigeon race in Chiayi’s Yizhu Township has been around for a century. Originally used to send wartime messages, the pigeons are trained to endure long distance flights with a bamboo tube strapped to their backs. These days, it’s a local tradition. The pigeons are taken to their opponents’ hometown and must fly back to their own. Whoever has the most pigeons return is the winner.

Flocks of pigeons take flight as their bamboo cages are lifted. If you look closely, you can see that each one has a bamboo tube strapped to their back. This is the traditional pigeon race held in Chiayi’s Yizhu Township, with a century of history.

Chueh Yu-ching
Elementary school principal
Before, when army units needed to send messages back and forth, they used pigeons. Since their endurance is important, they strap a tube to their backs to increase the load.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
It makes a sound when the wind blows, that’s why it’s called a pigeon whistle.

The county commissioner himself tried it out, showing how to make the bamboo tube whistle. There are large and small versions, depending on the size of the pigeon. The largest one can reach over 9 inches.

Hsieh Jung-che
Bamboo whistle maker
There are only a few pigeons that are able to carry ones this big. They have to be brave enough.

The competition is between villages. Pigeons are released in their opponents’ village and fly back through obstacles set up along the way. At the end, each village counts how many returned, and the one with the most wins. Villagers work on the offensive and defensive, so it’s not unusual to see competitors capturing their opponents’ pigeons. The owner then has to pay a ransom to get them back.

Yizhu resident
I have four pigeons and all four were captured. I spent NT$1,000 to get them back. I had to. In total I spent NT$4,000.

Huang Cheng-chieh
Yizhu resident
Yizhu is the only place north of the Bazhang River that holds this kind of pigeon race. Other races are all in Tainan. There are eight villages in total.

The Yizhu race lasts for a month and a half. It has long been a part of local life here, beloved by young and old who keep the tradition alive.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Hand-made tortillas and horchata at Taipei restaurant

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First up is this birria taco, a twist on the traditional Mexican stew. They are made by filling corn tortillas with slow-cooked birria, melted cheese, onions and cilantro.

Aaron Davis
Mexican restaurant founder
Birria is actually traditionally a goat meat. Goat meat stewed in tomato and chilis but recently, they have been using beef instead of goat. I like the flavor of this beef. We actually have two different types of beef in there to give different textures and different fat content.

Other tacos on the menu include chicken, carnitas, and shrimp. All of their tortillas are made in-house with corn. Their Mexican-style horchata, a refreshing rice drink, is also made from scratch.

Aaron Davis
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We hand-make all of our tortillas. We start with raw corn. We cut it for hours. We go through the nixtamalization process which breaks the outer skin. We then grind it here in-house. We then pound out each one of the rounds, grill it for a little bit. Every single tortilla is a special work of art. Our slogan is "Taste like home, yet we are not your mama." We want to continue that feeling of home cooked food and really thoughtful like your mom would cook for you. We want to make you feel like you are home when you are here.

The restaurant is the brainchild of Aaron Davis and his wife Dora. Aaron is from Northern California, and he met his wife in China, where he worked for 15 years. Prior to opening his restaurant, he worked in the steel industry and as an educator. During COVID, the couple moved to Taiwan. It took Aaron and his wife three months from having the idea to opening up the restaurant.

Aaron Davis
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This place was not a restaurant. There was no kitchen. It was a garage before and they had renovated it into a tea shop so it still had some things going for it, but really, everything, every chair, every brick, every sign, every wall painted, everything was done by my wife and I hand.

Davis and his wife hope to provide a taste of home-cooked Mexican food for their patrons.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Taipei tests security response ahead of World Masters Games

Police and security officers are getting ready for the World Masters Games, which will kick off next month. Taipei on Tuesday hosted a series of five drills to test security protocols. They included a realistic hostage situation, responses to mass casualty events, and explosive detection and disposal.

A simulated hostage situation is reported on a bus near the Taipei Dome. Large numbers of police officers and security personnel have been dispatched to respond quickly, sealing off the scene and surrounding the area.

The anti-terrorist unit takes action to rescue the hostages. With just 25 days to go until the opening of the World Masters Games, Taipei Police Department is enhancing its security with emergency drills.

Tu Kuo-ching
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The Police Department is working with the Departments of Social Welfare, Health, and Sports, as well as central and local governments. It has made plans to address special scenarios such as bus hostage situations and to conduct evacuation and rescue operations in mass casualty scenarios.

There are five major drills underway including mass casualty evacuation, explosive detection and disposal, and fire rescues. They aim to verify the effectiveness of established procedures by mobilizing more than 100 personnel to respond to a realistic scenario.

Chiang Wan-an
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We must be prepared for the worst-case scenarios and put on strong defenses against attacks. Every day, security personnel will be dispatched two hours before each event begins. We also will conduct thorough inspections of each venue and install security checkpoints before the competitions begin to ensure that neither athletes nor spectators are carrying any dangerous items.

The opening ceremony for the World Masters Games will be held on May 17, and it’s expected to draw some 20,000 people. Strict security checks will be in place at every event, with the concerted efforts from local and central government agencies.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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TPP, KMT heads come together at opposition ‘summit’

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KMT Chair Eric Chu and TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang shake hands before embracing each other when they appear on stage at the Opposition Leaders Summit.

According to the organizers, the summit aimed to be a platform for the two parties to exchange views on Taiwan’s domestic issues and international challenges for closer cooperation. Inevitably, the ruling party became a common focus.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
Taiwan can no longer afford internal strife and infighting. Every day the DPP hollers, “Recall them all! Success to all!” But when the people suffer from great economic loss and great economic slowdown, it’s the people of Taiwan that ends up losing.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
We’re sitting here together to communicate directly. One very important reason for this is for us to transcend party lines and factions. When they’re embroiled in an argument out there, there’s even less of a reason for us to fight our own and find targets to label as the enemy, and continue to incite conflict and hostility.

The recent raid of the KMT’s Taipei branch did not go unmentioned.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
First they raise the sword toward the TPP, the former chair of the TPP. And recently even toward the KMT. Exhibit A: Taipei branch head Ms. Huang Lu. Fortunately the judge ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to detain her for investigation.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
I really do feel it so deeply in my heart, everything you’ve described is what we, the Taiwan People’s Party has lived with over the past eight months.

Chu also took the opportunity to invite Huang to participate in the KMT’s anti-DPP rally this coming Sunday, to which Huang consented. As for their views on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s suggestion for lawmakers to hold a no-confidence vote against their Cabinet, here’s what they have to say.

Huang Kuo-chang
TPP chair
Dismissing the Cabinet will not save Taiwan. Doing so also cannot rid the forces that are in fact seeking authoritarian rule.

Eric Chu
KMT chair
The one that everyone would like to see dismissed is called Lai Ching-te. Whether through dismissing the Cabinet or through recalls, or through any means, the power of the people will prevail. We won’t rule out any option. There must be a strategy, a way, a plan, a timeline that’s not only about dismissing the Cabinet but Lai.

With this meeting, the two parties are now even more aligned in their role as the opposition against the ruling DPP.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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