Taiwan Quick Take: Hunters taking heavy toll

Hunters are illegally killing 600 to 700 birds of prey every night in the south of the country, stirring outrage among bird lovers, a newspaper reported yesterday. Poachers use the cover of night to kill the migratory grey-faced buzzard eagles in an unpopulated area of Pingtung County, the Chinese-language China Times reported. On each of the past three nights, several hundred birds were killed, the paper said. Thousands of grey-faced buzzard eagles migrate through Kenting National Park in Pingtung County every September and October, circling the skies in flocks to the delight of bird watchers. But birds of prey are a popular dish here as well as in other Asian countries. Bird lovers are writing letters to urge local authorities to take action to stop the hunters, the paper said.