Snare trap opponents hold rally in Taipei

Animal rights advocates gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei, demanding the government enact a promised ban on snare traps. They presented more than 10,000 letters and postcards to the Presidential Office, urging President William Lai to intervene.

The Ministry of Agriculture had committed to banning snare traps within a year in 2024, a deadline that has passed without action. Protesters highlighted the suffering caused by these traps, with one participant, Chao Ping-chu, recounting her shock at seeing numerous dogs with lost limbs in Nantou County, an area surrounded by mountains.

"I was shocked when I once saw more than 10 dogs that all had lost at least a limb," Chao said. She emphasized that such scenes are largely unseen by urban residents, making advocacy crucial.

Legislators from various parties have proposed draft bills to ban snare traps, but these remain stalled in the legislature's Economics Committee. Advocates are calling for an administrative order to implement the ban, suggesting special clauses for indigenous communities who register and regularly check their traps.

Data presented by the Taiwan One Ecology Coalition indicates that snare traps have severely impacted wildlife, including at least 31 Formosan black bears and nine leopards trapped in recent years, resulting in numerous deaths. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the ban was contingent on reaching a consensus with local indigenous communities.

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I was shocked when I once saw more than 10 dogs that all had lost at least a limb.