Two eggs from a clutch laid by a golden thread turtle, which is endemic to the Neiliao Wetlands (內寮濕地), hatched on Saturday, a sign that conservation measures to boost the species’ population is starting to bear fruit, volunteers in the area said.
April last year was a sad time for conservation efforts, as a female turtle seeking a suitable place to lay her legs was run over by traffic, Keelung Wild Birds Society president Shen Chin-feng (沈錦豐) said.
The accident prompted society volunteers to place traffic signs near the wetlands’ entrance to warn drivers of turtles crossing the road, a first in the nation.
Photo courtesy of Keelung Wild Birds Society president Shen Chin-feng
The baby turtles that hatched on Saturday were taken by society volunteers for observation, and would be released back to the wild when deemed suitable, Shen said.
The society had thought that the clutch of eggs were unfertilized, because the last time the volunteers had checked, all the turtles in the wetlands seemed to be female, Shen said.
We are glad to be proven wrong, Shen and other volunteers said, adding that the society has redoubled its efforts to care for the turtles and drive off wild dogs and other animals.
Photo: Lu Hsien-shou, Taipei Times
While the turtles are found in higher numbers in Taiwan than elsewhere and are not considered endangered or protected under the law, they are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Shen said.
The local population of golden thread turtles has gradually declined due to the increasing population of red-eared sliders — a species that has invaded many areas after being released by pet owners.
The number of golden thread turtles might drop further if conservation measures are not taken, Shen said.
The group urged drivers in Keelung’s Anle District (安樂) to be mindful of the traffic signs and slow down for the turtles, which might be roaming about the streets.
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
EVA Airways, one of the leading international carriers in Taiwan, yesterday said that it was investigating reports that a cabin crew manager had ignored the condition of a sick flight attendant, who died on Saturday. The airline made the statement in response to a post circulating on social media that said that the flight attendant on an outbound flight was feeling sick and notified the cabin crew manager. Although the flight attendant grew increasingly ill on the return flight, the manager did not contact Medlink — a system that connects the aircraft to doctors on the ground for treatment advice during medical
RSS