They're on the prowl at a handful of police stations, keeping pesky rodents in check. Thanks to the Los Angeles-based animal advocacy and rescue group, The Working Cats program of Voice for the Animals, feral cats that would have faced an almost certain death in shelters or on the streets now have a job.
The cats are in several police stations where rodents are a problem. The cats do not usually kill the rats and mice, but simply leave their scent, prompting the rodents to go elsewhere.
The animals' reputation grew after feral cats were introduced to the parking lot of the Wilshire Division nearly six years ago. The problem was so bad, mice were sometimes seen scampering across staffers' desks.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANIMALS TAIWAN
"Once we got the cats, problem solved," said Commander Kirk Albanese, a captain at the Wilshire station at the time. "I think it's a very humane way to deal with a very stubborn problem."
Feral cats cannot be turned into house pets, as they are unaccustomed to people and run away when approached. Voice for the Animals' board member Jane Garrison selected six feral cats for Southeast station. Garrison worked with two shelters to select the most feral cats. The cats were then desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and ear-tipped.
The cats were placed in large wire holding cages and housed in a shed for a month until they adapted to their new location.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANIMALS TAIWAN
At first, the cats spend much of their time out of sight. "They've got to play it safe and see if they're OK," said Southeast officer Sandra Magdaleno, who feeds and cares for the cats.(AP)
牠們在少數幾個警察局附近四處走動，嚇阻討厭的老鼠。這都要感謝洛杉磯的動物保護救援團體─動物之聲工作貓計劃，原本極可能死在收容所或街頭的野貓現在有工作了。
這些野貓進駐數間深受鼠患所苦的警局，牠們不用真的置鼠類於死地，因為單憑牠們的氣味就能將鼠類驅趕到別處了。
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANIMALS TAIWAN
牠們自從將近六年前被引介到威爾榭分局的停車場後變得聲名大噪，那裡的鼠患非常嚴重，有時候老鼠就大搖大擺地從員警的桌上跑過。
「這些貓來了之後，我們就沒有鼠患問題了，」當時擔任威爾榭分局隊長的分局長科克．阿爾巴尼斯說：「我認為我們用了一個非常人道的方法來解決這個難題。」
野貓無法被馴服成家貓，因為牠們不習慣親近人，一有人靠近就會逃跑。動物之聲委員會的珍．蓋瑞森和兩個收容所合力挑選了六隻最兇猛的野貓給東南警局，並幫牠們結紮、接種疫苗、植入晶片和剪耳朵。
這些貓被安置在一間房舍內的大型鐵絲網籠中一個月，目的是要讓牠們習慣這個新的地點。
一開始，這些貓大部份的時間都躲起來，東南警局負責餵食、照顧這些貓的警官珊卓．梅妲雷諾說：「牠們得先確定處境是否安全。」（美聯社／翻譯：袁星塵）
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As we bundle up in thick coats to stay warm during the winter, there is a population that has already adapted to extremely low temperatures. These people live in the remote city of Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth. Yakutsk is situated in the heart of Siberia, which is the capital of the Sakha Republic in Russia. This historic mining city began to flourish in the 19th century following the discovery of gold deposits. Given its construction on permafrost, the average temperature in the city remains below 0°C for over half the year, with winter temperatures dropping to an astonishing -50°C.
A: Happy Year of the Snake! Did you do anything special during the Lunar New Year holiday? B: I went to K-pop girl group Apink’s concert. How about you? A: I just stayed at home. But I’m going to girl group 2NE1’s show on Saturday. B: Wow, I really love their megahit “I Am the Best,” better known by its Korean title “Naega jeil jal naga.” A: I’m so glad that 2NE1 reunited last year, eight years after they disbanded in 2016. A: 蛇年快樂！你春節有做什麼特別活動嗎？ B: 我去了南韓女團Apink的演唱會，你呢？ A: 我都宅在家裡，不過這週六要去韓流天團2NE1的演唱會。 B: 我愛該團神曲《我最紅》，韓文歌名《Naega jeil jal naga》超洗腦。 A: 她們2016年解散8年後，去年終於合體真令人開心。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei
The Dutch introduced the Indian mango (Mangifera indica) to Taiwan in the 17th century. It is a green-skinned mango with thick fibers that get stuck in the teeth, but it boasts a rich aroma and a unique taste. In 1954, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture introduced several mango cultivars from Florida, USA, including the Irwin, Haden, and Keitt varieties. After seven years of testing and domestication, the Irwin variety was chosen for promotion. Years later, the sample saplings started to bear fruit. These mangoes were large, with thin, vibrant red peels and golden pulp. The Irwin mangoes were mouth-wateringly sweet and
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