In New Taipei City, hornet attacks in rural areas are increasing dramatically

In New Taipei City, hornet attacks in rural areas are increasing dramatically

2026-06-29

The number of hornet attacks this year has been significantly higher than previous years and they seem to be occurring earlier in the year than is normal. According to statistics, in New Taipei City alone there were nearly 4,000 incidents involving hornets by June. National Taiwan University’s Department of Entomology has now designed a LINE Bot warning system for hornet hotspots in New Taipei. Just by looking at a map, you can see if there are hornet hives nearby you as you hike. Let’s find out what all the buzz is about.

A man sits on the ground, completely weak, and firefighters give him an emergency shot of adrenaline, Why? Because he had just been stung by a hornet.

Here is the Sandiaoling trail in New Taipei’s Ruifang District. During the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, a professor from National Taiwan University and his friends arranged to go hiking. He never expected to be attacked by hornets halfway up the trail. The Ruifang District Office responded immediately, removing the hornet net and temporarily sealing off the area. Hornets have been unusually active this year and the attacks are occurring earlier in the year than usual.

Yang Shu-fang
New Taipei animal protection office
By June in New Taipei City, the number of cases involving hornets had reached over 3,000, almost 4,000.

Yang Sheng-min
Ruifang District Office
Our research team at National Taiwan University has shown that the number of hornets this year is significantly higher than last year, and the timing of their attacks has also started earlier.

The Animal Protection Office collaborated with National Taiwan University, where Professor Yang En-cheng led a team from the Department of Entomology to design an alert and notification system. His LINE Bot warning system for hornet hotspots in New Taipei City issues an alert once users enter a hazardous area. The public can also proactively report sightings through the system, check the maps, and track the situation in real time to avoid hornet attacks.

Yang En-cheng
National Taiwan University
If you find any hornets, they can be reported directly through our LINE system. Back in our research institute, we have dedicated graduate students and assistants who maintain this system.

There are various aggressive species, such as the Asian Giant Hornet and the Yellow-legged hornet roaming around. When going hiking, it’s advisable not to wear perfume or bright colored clothing and never disturb a hornet swarm. If you see a hive or a swarm of hornets, leave as fast as you can.

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

#hornets #hornet #hiking #outdooractivities #safety

新北通報虎頭蜂攻擊近4千起台大昆蟲系設計"警示系統"

2026-06-29

最近外出爬山，除了要防曬還要注意虎頭蜂，據統計，今年虎頭蜂通報，來到快四千多件，比往年高出許多。台灣大學昆蟲系為此設計了LINE BOT警示系統，提醒民眾已進入虎頭蜂熱點區域。

一名男子坐在地上，渾身無力，消防人員緊急注射腎上腺素，因為他剛剛被虎頭蜂叮咬。

這裡新北瑞芳三貂嶺步道，端午連假，一名台大教授與友人相約爬山，沒想到在半路，遭到虎頭蜂攻擊。瑞芳區公所緊急處理，先將蜂巢摘除，並暫時封鎖該區域。今年虎頭蜂異常活躍，時間相較過去也提早。

[[新北市動保處長楊淑方]]
“目前以新北市今年的量來到六月，已經到達三千多件，快要四千件的虎頭蜂暴量的案件”

[[新北市瑞芳區長楊勝閔]]
“經過我們臺大團隊的研究，今年的虎頭蜂的數量明顯比去年增多非常多，而且攻擊的時間點也提早”

動保處和台灣大學合作，台大昆蟲系教授楊恩城率領團隊設計警示通報系統，新北市虎頭蜂熱點警示LINE BOT，一但進入虎頭蜂熱點區域就會發出提醒，也可以透過系統主動通報，查詢虎頭蜂出沒熱點地圖，即時追蹤情況，讓民眾可以避開虎頭蜂的攻擊。

[[台灣大學昆蟲系教授楊恩城]]
“有發現有虎頭蜂的狀況，那他就可以在我們的這個LINE的系統裡面，就直接通報回來，那回到我們研究室裡面，我們有專門的這個研究生跟助理在維持這個系統”

除了虎頭蜂外，還有不少攻擊性強的中華大虎頭蜂、黃腰虎頭蜂出沒，提醒民眾在登山時，不噴香水、不穿鮮豔服裝，不干擾蜂群。如果看到蜂窩、蜂群，請盡速離開。

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Last week’s days of downpours dampened moods and destroyed infrastructure, including a bowling alley in Yuanshan that had part of its roof crushed by a landslide last night. The bowling alley closing down a couple weeks ago was a blessing in disguise, because the building was vacant, yet the landslide also didn’t spare local hiking trails, which could be permanently closed for safety’s sake.

There’s an enormous hole in the roof of this bowling alley in Taipei’s Yuanshan District. A massive landslide of rocks and trees hit the building’s roof, resulting in the ceiling’s steel frames being exposed to the light of day as well as some bowling lanes suffering damage.

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When you’re here in-person, you can see how the trees and boulders punctured a hole in the ceiling of the bowling alley. There’s also pieces of concrete strewn about this startling scene.

Due to a days-long stretch of heavy rains, on June 28 at night a shallow landslide weighing around 400 tons punctured a hole in the building’s ceiling, causing damage to about 10 square meters of the building. Yet, as fate would have it, the bowling alley closed down half a month ago, and so no one was inside when the landslide hit. Despite there being no injuries or casualties, the owner was visibly emotional about the situation.

Chen Chao-chung
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It’s fortunate that we closed down, because on Sunday nights there’d be so many people inside, so if something like this were to happen during business hours… Right now I’ll be handling clean-up of the wreckage, but the building’s future is out of my hands.

On Monday morning, a team from Taipei City’s Geotechnical Engineering Office visited the site, doing an on-site inspection that included the building’s interior and exterior as well as the mountain behind the bowling alley. They discovered the gully erosion, which is due to high soil water content levels, and social trails created decades ago have been eroded. With the ground’s foundation suspended in mid-air, future landslides could happen at any time. Fortunately, the landslide hit the bowling alley, as this large landslide could’ve tumbled down onto Zhongshan North Road.

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The entire area of the landslide is about 30m wide by 60m long, which is about 1,800 square meters. The slope of the landslide area is pretty steep, so the removal process might take some time. Our preliminary estimation is that we hope to be able to get it done within two weeks.

The hiking trails near the bowling alley have been cordoned off, and it’s feared that they won’t be re-opened to the public in the future. Despite the landslide area no longer being on bedrock, meaning the area’s situation is more stable, the city’s Geotechnical Engineering Office isn’t taking any chances, as it will continue to send out engineers to monitor the area.

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In a recently uploaded video, a diner was recorded picking up sushi rolls straight from the conveyor belt. In another instance, they slurped up one roll before putting the plate back. Many find the video appalling.

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Surplus cabbage turned into frozen meals as prices fall

Due to the warming climate, there has been a surplus of cabbages since last November, with prices falling to as low as NT$10 per head in some areas. To deal with this abundance, the Agriculture and Food Agency has partnered with frozen food manufacturers and convenience stores to offer packages of frozen vegetables, aiming to make use of the 300 tons of surplus cabbage.

Whether stir-fried or added to hot pot, cabbage is a versatile and nutritious vegetable commonly used in many households. Now people can also buy frozen cabbage.

Even though it’s been frozen, it tastes fresh. Due to the unseasonably warm winter, there has been a surplus of cabbage since November, with the abundance driving prices down and farmers struggling to make ends meet. The Agriculture and Food Agency partnered with farmers’ associations, frozen food manufacturers, and convenience stores to offer packages of frozen cabbage, hoping to find a new way to market the vegetable.

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Topped with deliciously ripe mango and a drizzle of condensed milk, a bowl of shaved ice is the perfect way to stave off the summer heat.

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The Taro Education Center here in Yunlin’s Linnei Township is running a generous promotion. Students from any school and any grade can show any test—whether a quiz, midterm, final, or even a grueling standardized exam—for a bowl of shaved ice. All they need is a perfect score.

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Since the center started the promotion four years ago, they’ve given away more than 500 bowls of shaved ice, although most of the recipients have been elementary schoolers.

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We decided to expand the program this year to get more students involved. So everyone in junior high, high school, or taking a standardized exam are all eligible.

The promotion has also drawn lots of visitors from out of town. Since they allow for one bowl per subject, some bring stacks of tests to get their entire family a free dessert.

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The furthest visitors traveled all the way from Taoyuan. They were already planning a vacation down here in Yunlin, but made sure to stop at our center to get some free ice. The entire family had a great time.

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