Kenting park rangers introduce humane trap to control deer population
Kenting park rangers introduce humane trap to control deer population
2026-02-09
The sika deer population in Kenting National Park has been successfully rehabilitated—maybe too successfully. Herds of deer are now devouring the park’s precious indigenous plants. They’re also threatening public safety, as deer road crossings have become common in the past few years. They’ve also taken a liking to farmers’ crops. The park has hired 20 brave souls from the area to catch the deer using humane traps. The first 50 caught will be taken to a rehabilitation center, where they are to live after being neutered.
When a pole enters the contraption, it snaps shut like your typical animal trap. But this one is different, as it won’t break the animal’s leg.
This humane trap was created by the Kenting National Park Headquarters and animal experts to catch sika deer.
Tseng Tien-ting
Kenting National Park deputy director
Too many deer not only harm the native plant life, but also black bean and dragon fruit crops. Sometimes when they’re chased by stray dogs, they run into the road and cause accidents.
Sika deer used to be a protected species, but now, their numbers need to be brought under control. There are an estimated 3,600 deer in Kenting, far more than the ecosystem can handle. They’re not only devouring the native plant life, but also farmers’ crops, and are causing traffic accidents. To solve these problems, the park has hired hunters to capture the deer.
Tseng Tien-ting
Kenting National Park deputy director
For this project, we plan to recruit and train 20 certified hunters to capture deer using lassos. We hope to reduce the harm caused to the deer in the process. The captured deer will be sent to live at the sika deer breeding center here in Sheding.
Member of public
It’s often hard to strike a balance between nature and humans. This is a friendly method, toward both the animals and people. Since we’re not euthanizing, but using a more humane way of dealing with them.
Member of public
I think it’s pretty good. It cares for the deer and doesn’t hurt them.
The goal for the first phase of the project is to capture 50 deer. As soon as that target is reached, the initiative will be paused to study the impact. The park hopes that this strategy will allow people and deer to coexist peacefully.
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#deer #sikadeer #Kenting #KentingNationalPark #wildlife #capture #neuter #hunting #humane #animaltrap
梅花鹿數量過多! 墾管處出動"人道捕獸夾"捕捉圈養
2026-02-09
墾丁國家公園的梅花鹿似乎復育過剩，過多的數量，造成珍貴的原生植物被啃食殆盡，這幾年來也經常發生梅花鹿跑到馬路上來，造成車禍，或是啃食農民作物的情況。現在墾管處要招募二十名在地勇士，以人道捕獸夾的方式，捕捉梅花鹿，第一批五十隻，抓到之後，會帶回梅花鹿復育區進行結紥圈養。
把棍子一插進去，捕獸夾馬上合起來，不過，這個捕獸夾和一般的不一樣，並不會把動物的腳夾斷。
這是墾管處和學者專家共同改良的人道捕獸夾，目標是要用來對付梅花鹿。
[[墾管處副處長 曾添丁]]
“過多的梅花鹿，不只對珍稀植物、農民的黑豆、火龍果等農作物造成農損，甚至也會因為流浪犬的追趕，跑到路面上延伸出交通事故。”
原本是復育保護對象的梅花鹿，如今卻變成獵捕對象。根據統計，目前墾丁的梅花鹿已經超過3千6百隻，遠超過環境所能承載的數量，不只珍貴的原生植物被吃光，還跑去吃農民的作物，而因梅花鹿造成的車禍，更是頻傳。為了解決鹿災，墾管處將招募獵人，展開捕捉梅花鹿的計畫。
[[墾管處副處長 曾添丁]]
“本計畫預計招募訓練20位合格的捕捉獵人，用套索的方式來捕捉，希望減少過程中對梅花鹿造成的傷害，捕捉到的梅花鹿送到本處社頂梅花鹿復育區來圈養。”
[[民眾]]
“很多大自然，跟人類那個平衡點有時候是很難去取得啦。這種做法還蠻友善的啦，對動物對人類都蠻友善的，因為我們不是給它撲殺，只是用比較人道的方式來去處理。”
[[民眾]]
“我覺得還不錯，就是可以顧到那個梅花鹿，然後不要讓牠受到傷害這樣。”
初期試驗階段目標50隻，一旦達標就會暫停執行，評估成效，希望能以這樣的方式讓人與鹿和平共處。
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