Reports of hikers along the recently reopened Jinshueiying Ancient Trail (浸水營古道) being attacked by hornets over the three-day holiday weekend has prompted authorities to seal the trail temporarily until the hornetss nest has been removed.
Spanning from Pingtung County’s Fangliao Township (枋寮) to Taitung county’s Dawu Township (大武), the trail was only reopened last week after it was shut down due to landslides damaging the path during the Fongwong Typhoon late last month.
The hiking trail is judged as being low in difficulty overall and the 14.5km section from the Da Han Trail in Pingtung’s Chunrih Township (春日) to Taitung County’s Guzailun Bridge (姑仔崙) draws the most people as it was easier than the rest of the trail.
Photo: Chen Yen-ting, Taipei Times
A group of 11 hikers took the Da Han to Guzailun section yesterday, but were disrupted when four of them were attacked by hornets.
According to one of the members of the group, nicknamed A-lan (阿藍), the group was about take a rest in the sun when they were attacked, adding that he had been stung in the back of the head.
Another member of the group, nicknamed A-ying (阿盈), was also stung when she went to check on the others. She said the wound burned like fire and dried out her throat as she made her way down the trail.
A-ying said that the hornets were strongly territorial and chased them all the way down the mountain, adding that they eventually exited the tail safely in Taitung.
Chunrih police yesterday sealed off the entrance to the trail immediately after being alerted to the situation.
According to police, hornet stings can cause generalized anaphylaxis, which can be lethal, adding that the police station had seen one hiker go into shock after being stung, but had managed to save him by seeking medical attention.
The police said that the hiking trail would be temporarily sealed until the hive has been removed, as search-and-rescue operations in mountainous areas were extremely difficult.
Pingtung Forestry Management Office deputy director Lee Cheng-hsien (李政賢) said to the office’s knowledge, most of the incidents had occurred on the Taitung section of the trail.
The office said, however, it was currently the season when bees swarm to enlarge their territory, and as hornets, unlike honeybees, can sting people multiple times, hikers in the Pingtung part of the trail should take care.
The office has contacted the Taitung office and would be making a general inspection along the trail, Lee said, adding that if any hornet hives are found they would hire professionals to remove them.
Hikers or individuals visiting the areas should not wear bright clothing or scents which might attract bees, Lee said, adding that it was suggested people wear clothes which cover up any bare skin.
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