Keeping tabs on nature

"The species only may exist here now because no records suggest that it has been seen in the field in the last decade," Lin said.

King Hen-biau (金恆鑣), a TFRI scientist who helped to found the TERN, said results of long-tern studies aimed at understanding ecological systems in Taiwan could provide crucial information for policy-makers to design sound policies on eco-system management.

Despite ecologists' hard work in linking research results with the international community, King said poor conservation education in Taiwan is compromising the result. Illegal hunting at Fushan is just one example, he said.

According to Chiou Wen-liang (邱文良), who chairs the TFRI's Fushan Research Station, a few weeks ago, the remains of six muntjacs were discovered at Fushan.

Chiou said hunters sneaked into the site to kill the inquisitive animals, which are relatively unafraid of humans.

Illegal hunting remains a long-term problem at Fushan, Chiou said, and animals are innocently sacrificed for to feed a voracious appetite for meat in Taiwan.

Chiou said that to promote ecological conservation, workshops had been held in townships nearby but their effectiveness has been limited.

"Illegal hunting leads not only to loss of life but also to the loss of data on long-term ecological research," Chiou said.

TFRI director-general Yang criticized the government for its failure to control illegal hunting.

"To give consideration to both ecological conservation and Aboriginal cultural preservation, the government should designate hunting seasons in certain mountainous areas based on breeding activities," Yang said.

Officials at the NCHC are now considering adding surveillance instruments into the wireless eco-grid system at Fushan.

Due to funding and manpower constraints, however, that realization depends on the cooperation of the high-tech industry. Currently, the hidden cameras installed at Fushan are borrowed from high-tech firms.