The Forestry Bureau’s Hualien Forest District Office on Friday awarded Hualien resident Manama (蘇明生) a cash reward of NT$8,000 and a commendation plaque for reporting the sighting of a Formosan black bear.
Manama, a member of the Bunun indigenous people, received the reward for reporting the sighting to the office without harming the animal.
Anyone who reports sighting a Formosan black bear without harming it receives a reward of NT$3,000, said Lo Yu-chuan (羅尤娟), head of the bureau’s conservation department.
Photo: CNA
Manama was given an additional NT$5,000 for allowing the government to set up cameras around his property in Jhuosi Township (卓溪) to monitor the activities of the bear, Lo said.
Manama received the award as part of a bureau program to promote awareness and conservation of endangered animals and their habitats.
The Formosan black bear was added to the program in October last year, with rewards covering 60 townships in 13 counties.
Manama’s report marked the first time the program has issued a reward for a black bear, Lo said.
Speaking with reporters on Friday, Manama said he first became aware there was a bear on his property when his son on Dec. 21 told him that the family’s chicken coop had been ransacked.
After checking the coop the following day, he became certain it was the work of a bear, with one hen missing and feed eaten, Manama said.
Manama notified the Hualien Forest District Office, which subsequently found black bear fur and excrement.
The office got permission from the landowner to set up three cameras around his property, which captured footage of the bear on the nights of Friday and Saturday last week.
The office said the footage indicated the bear had been helping itself to Manama’s supplies, suggesting it had been in the area for a while.
Following confirmation of the bear’s existence, the office instructed people in Manama’s village to remove their chicken coops to discourage the bear’s nighttime activities.
The bear has not been sighted since Sunday last week, the office said, adding that surveillance would continue for three months to make sure it does not return.
Manama explained that he informed the bureau of the bear sighting instead of harming it because the Bunun people have a long-held respect for the animal.
Manama said it was the first time he has seen a Formosan black bear in the 50 years he has lived in the village, and he had no desire to hurt the animal regardless of the damage it caused to his property.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS