Kaohsiung rescues nearly 2,600 wild animals; steps up stray dog control in sensitive areas

Kaohsiung City has successfully rescued 2,595 wild animals over the last seven months, with 96 of them being protected species. The Oriental Scops Owl was the most frequently rescued protected animal, with 32 individuals found. This effort highlights the city's commitment to wildlife conservation.

To mitigate threats to wildlife, particularly from stray dogs, the city's animal protection office is focusing on four key ecologically sensitive zones. These areas include the Cigu and Yong'an wetlands, as well as Lupu Village in Tianliao District and Matou Mountain in Neimen District. The intensified capture of stray dogs in these locations aims to protect vulnerable species such as black-faced spoonbills, pangolins, and sika deer.

The initiative has shown promising results, especially in protecting migratory birds. The Yong'an and Cigu wetlands, popular birdwatching spots and crucial habitats for winter migratory birds, have seen a significant reduction in disturbances. While the city previously received 8 to 10 reports annually of stray dogs bothering migratory birds, this number dropped to three last year. This year, no such reports have been received, demonstrating the effectiveness of using drones for tracking and human teams for capture operations.