Conservationists launch donation drive for threatened foothill habitats

Conservationists launch donation drive for threatened foothill habitats

2026-04-14

As urban development accelerates, creatures such as leopard cats and civets that live in the foothills dividing cities and mountains are struggling to survive. The Society of Wilderness held a news conference on April 8 to share the results of its surveys of over 90 habitats around Taiwan. It also announced a convenience store fundraising campaign, calling on the public to donate their spare change to support threatened wildlife.

Dozens of tailless leaf-nosed bats fly around the mouth of this tunnel. Volunteers keep their distance, since the species is not only scarce, but also rarely seen in Taiwan.

Other common, yet endangered species here include leopard cats and masked palm civets. Over 20,000 volunteers with the Society of Wilderness have long acted as custodians of foothill habitats, conducting fixed observation and surveys.

Volunteer
We’ve recently been working at Youth Park. One important task we did this time was to create a slope that mimics the natural streams of Taipei. Many water birds will come through there. Kingfishers also go there to find food. So we just want to create a suitable habitat for them to live.

Foothills are considered areas at the bottom of mountains no taller than 800m. They have rich biodiversity, but when cities encroach on their habitat, wildlife are compressed into smaller areas.

Lee Chi-ting
Society of Wilderness chair
For Fuyang富陽 Eco Park, we obtained management rights through a stewardship agreement with the city government. We’re doing a lot of conservation work there, as well as environmental education. Since people live close to foothills, they’re often used for human activity, like farming or recreation, or sometimes camping or homestays. There are many ways to improve these issues. It just requires working together.

Ecological conservation is an urgent matter. This year, the society is also partnering with a convenience store chain to collect donations, hoping to mobilize the entire population to spare their change for the benefit of the nation’s threatened foothill habitats.

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

#conservation #foothills #endangeredspecies #leopardcat #civet #SocietyofWilderness #ecologicalconservation #wildlife #animals

都市發展快速面臨淺山危機! 石虎.白鼻心生存告急

2026-04-14

都市發展快速，位於城市與高山之間的「淺山」地帶，不少活動其中的珍稀野生物種像是石虎、白鼻心，正面臨高度生存壓力，荒野保護協會8日舉辦記者會，分享橫跨全台將近90處棲地調查成果，同時宣布攜手超商公益平台推動零錢捐行動，號召民眾從日常消費一同守護生態。

隧道口大量台灣無尾葉鼻蝠，自由穿梭，棲地志工不敢靠近，因為在台灣，這類型的蝙蝠物種，數量不僅稀少又罕見。

其他常見珍稀野生物種包括石虎、白鼻心等，荒野保護協會為了讓這些動物能安心生存，2萬多名志工長期透過，棲地認養圈護、定點觀察、生態調查等方式保護淺山棲地。

[[棲地志工]]
“我們最近正好在青年公園，這一次很重要的一個工作就是，一個邊坡營造仿台北的溪流，很多的水鳥都會過來這個地方，那翠鳥牠也會來這邊覓食，那我們就想要在這邊營造，一個適合牠可以居住在這個地方”

淺山位處海拔800公尺以下山區，有豐富的生態物種，但因緊鄰人類生活圈，一旦城市迅速發展，自然壓縮野生動物的居住環境。

[[荒野保護協會理事長李騏廷]]
“富陽(生態公園)，我們是透過跟市政府認養的方式來取得它的管理權，在這個地方我們就進行了，很多棲地的守護的工作，還有環境教育的推廣，因為淺山跟我們的生活貼得很近，那它會有很多人需要利用的部分，比如說農業的利用或是，遊憩休閒的利用，那有時候可能也有一些，比如說露營區，或是一些民宿啊，我們有很多的方式，可以來改善這些問題，那只是需要大家一起來努力”

保護生態工作刻不容緩，荒野保護協會今年還攜手超商，推動零錢捐款行動，希望號召全民，從日常消費參與復育淺山棲地，一起守護地球。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Taiwan has issued a stern warning to Brazil’s representative to Taiwan after he reportedly claimed that even the KMT chair agrees that Taiwan is a part of China, a position held by his country’s One-China policy. In response, Premier Cho Jung-tai reiterated that the world must recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, or the de facto sovereignty of the ROC on Taiwan. Meanwhile, the DPP continues to protest the Cheng-Xi meeting, in which they say, had the KMT aligning with Beijing’s united front narratives.

Last Friday’s meeting between KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing cemented their proposition to reaffirm the “1992 consensus,” a tacit understanding between the two parties that there is “one China” between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The meeting was interpreted by the Representative of Brazil in Taiwan, Luís Cláudio Villafañe Gomes Santos as testament that the KMT chair believes that Taiwan is a part of China, which he implied, lended legitimacy to Brazil’s One-China policy, as reported in an interview with a local Taiwanese media outlet. Premier Cho Jung-tai strongly refuted Villafañe Gomes Santos’ remarks.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
We will issue necessary countermeasures. Moreover, we may even take this incident as an example to convey to the world over that Taiwan, the Republic of China on Taiwan, is an unchanged reality.

José Chih-cheng Han
MOFA Director of LATAM and Caribbean Affairs
Yesterday morning, our colleagues of comparable level had expressed our stern condemnation and dissatisfaction to the Representative of Brazil in Taiwan, Luís Cláudio Villafañe Gomes Santos. We suggest that he be mindful with his words.

Meanwhile, the ruling DPP made a social media post referencing the titles of news reports and opinion pieces of several international outlets, with the byline, “Even foreign media sees through the KMT and CCP’s lowly tricks.” The most incriminating for the KMT was Nikkei Asia’s op-ed, “The KMT and CCP form united front against Taiwan’s sovereignty.” On April 9, the day before the Cheng-Xi meeting, Reuters ran the headline, “Taiwan opposition leader talks peace with China as her party skips defense talks in Taipei;” and on the big day, they reported, “Taiwan sees only warships and warplanes as China talks peace with opposition.”

Chen Pei-yu
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International media is forcefully reminding other democratic countries in the world, and of course the Taiwanese, that if the so-called dialogue required that we give up our self-defense capabilities, then this state of peace is all a farce aimed at annihilating the Republic of China.

Lin Chu-yin
Lawmaker (DPP)
As the CCP’s warplanes and warships continue to harass Taiwan, the chair of Taiwan’s biggest opposition party instead, found a soulmate in Xi Jingping while in Beijing, and worse, voluntarily served as the CCP’s mouthpiece. International society already saw right through this hoax. How much longer will the KMT pretend otherwise?

The DPP is lambasting the KMT for supposedly aligning with Beijing’s united front narratives.

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

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Hotels spruce up rooms, restaurants in anticipation of Danjiang Bridge opening

The Danjiang Bridge is set to open to traffic on May 12, animating travel in the region. Local hotels have already started preparing by creating themed rooms and adding dining times in anticipation of the crowds. It’s also impacting the real-estate market, with Tamsui leading New Taipei City in existing property transactions last year.

Not too long from now, it’ll be a breeze to get to this idyllic shoreline. After the Danjiang Bridge opens to traffic on May 12, it will undoubtedly increase traffic to Tamsui. During peak hours, it will only take 25 minutes to get to there from Bali.

Visitor
In total, it will be a half hour faster to get from Taoyuan to Tamsui by car. It won’t be tiring, and it’ll leave more time to enjoy ourselves.

Visitor
It’ll shorten the drive by at least half. We happen to live right by the bridge, so we’ll definitely come all the time.

Voice of Lu Yu-yu
Tamsui Business District chair
The bridge connects Bali and Tamsui. You can come directly from the Taoyuan airport. It will be great for tourism.

With increased tourism on the horizon, hotels are excited. In addition to creating camping-themed rooms for a new-and-improved experience, their restaurants are also getting ready to cater to the new crowds.

Lin Hsin-yi
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After the bridge opens, there will be more day trippers. We’ll provide full-day meal services for weekends and long holidays. Total revenue is expected to increase 20 to 30%.

The real-estate market has seen a similar boost. Many presale homes have long since been snapped up, with Tamsui District accounting for three of the top five areas in New Taipei City last year for existing home transactions.

Lu Chin-ho
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Everyone is looking forward to the business opportunities, benefits, and convenience that the bridge will provide. Presale prices are clearly trending upward. The leading indicator is that unit prices are already approaching the NT$400,000 per ping range.

At 450 meters long, the Danjiang Bridge when completed will be the world’s largest single-tower asymmetric cable-stayed bridge in the world. It’s also expected to become a landmark of Tamsui, bringing crowds and a bright future for the district.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Kids Games sporting competition coming to Kaohsiung in June

The 2026 Kids Games are taking place June 13 and 14 in Kaohsiung, organized by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee. This year’s event, the first time it’s being held in Kaohsiung, includes 13 different sports, welcoming children to come and experience a major sporting competition. Olympic gold medal weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun attended a recent press conference to promote the games, encouraging kids and families to join in.

Young athletes perform martial arts on stage, showcasing their fitness and agility.

Other kids demonstrate fencing and boxing, showing how strong young people can be.

The 2026 Kids Games, organized by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, are being held in Kaohsiung for the first time this year. Olympic weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun and track-and-field athlete Chen Chieh attended the games’ press conference recently, interacting with kids and encouraging them to keep doing sports.

Kuo Hsing-chun
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Since having kids myself, I’ve come to appreciate even more the importance of exposing children to sports from a young age. After all, this is my field.

There are 13 different sporting events at this year’s games, including tug-of-war so that kids can experience teamwork.

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It was Kaohsiung’s idea to add tug-of-war for kids, which is being held for the first time during this fourth edition of the games. Tug-of-war is also one of Taiwan’s key sports on the international stage.

The 2026 Kids Games are taking place on June 13 and 14 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, giving kids aged three to six the opportunity to experience sports on a whole new level.

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

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Pregnant woman denounces dog that chased after her 10+ times

A scooter ride along a quiet road in Changhua quickly turned into a frightening close call for one expectant mother. A black dog suddenly darted out at her from a factory while she was passing by. The dog barked at her and sent her swerving and nearly crashing. Ms. Wu, who is six months pregnant, was left shaken, and she says it’s far from the first time she’s been in such a dangerous situation. She’s contacted the police and animal protection authorities, which are urging the dog’s owner to better manage the animal.

A black blur suddenly approaches from the side. It’s a black dog barking and chasing after the scooter, causing the rider to almost fall.

The rider is Ms. Wu, who is six months pregnant. The video was taken on Sunday at Jiadian road in Changhua’s Hemei Township. She says she’s had at least ten such nasty encounters with the dog.

Voice of Ms. Wu
Was chased by dog
It was dark, and it’s a black dog. It suddenly came running at me from the factory.

Ms. Wu was terrified, fearing that she could fall off her scooter and injure herself and her unborn child. She reported the incident to the police, which told her they cannot handle the case, as nobody got injured. She then asked animal protection authorities to speak with the dog’s owner. Things were fine for a while, but the dog soon reverted to its old ways in recent days. Now, she’s resorting to a local councilor.

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Maybe the woman hit it before, or pretended to hit it. So maybe the dog remembers that.

The dog owner says that although the dog chases people, it’s never bitten anyone. Our reporter went to the site, and found not one, but two dogs wagging their tails and acting cute for the camera.

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We dispatched staff to investigate the site. In addition to assessing the care situation of the dogs, we also asked the owner to better manage them.

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Worshippers readily lay prostrate for their beloved goddess’s arrival. On Day 2 of the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage, the sea goddess’s pink palanquin arrived at the border of Taichung’s Dadu and Longjin districts.

A woman stands out among the crowd outside the government-owned Dadu Market. She’s in tears, begging for Mazu to bring her mother-in-law home.

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- I need to find my mother-in-law. She’s been missing since April 11. I can’t find her anywhere. I’ve called the police. I really don’t know what to do.

Later, Mazu wills her pilgrims to stop the palanquin in front of the woman and offer support.

Our team also noticed this man in crutches. He identifies himself as Mr. Hsiang from Sanchong, New Taipei. It’s the first time he’s following in Baishatun Mazu’s footsteps, even with limited mobility after he’s diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP. It’s a rare disease that causes the patient to progressively develop muscle weakness and numbness from the limbs.

Mr. Hsiang
Worshipper
This period over the past two days was the first time for strangers to cheer me on ever since I got my diagnosis. It’s also the most enthusiastic. It’s really taxing and exhausting. I thought of giving up, but then I thought, if even strangers were willing to cheer us on, why not try a little harder?

Once again, the FTV team was lucky to have a chance to receive blessings, by laying prostrate for the palanquin to pass over. But don’t worry if you can’t actually make it in person. You can always ask family members to carry your clothing in a backpack for Mazu to charge it with good fortune and wear later, like many worshippers did today.

- I can’t describe it. It’s so moving on a visceral level. I’m so moved this very instance.
- You’ll be deeply moved simply by following her. I feel like I might cry.

Every worshipper following Mazu has a story to tell, but they all come together as one in a profoundly affective experience, by the grace of her boundless mercy.

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

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