Prosecutors in Pingtung County yesterday indicted nine people over the death of four Formosan black bears, as investigators look into whether they engaged in the illegal trade of protected species.
During the four-month probe, prosecutors searched 25 locations to gather evidence and questioned 24 people. They examined data from mobile phones, uncovering other incidents in which protected animals were killed in recent years, Pingtung County head prosecutor Chang Chun-hsiang (張鈞翔) told a news conference.
The nine suspects were charged with killing four Formosan black bears and other protected species over three years, and with contravening the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法).
Photo courtesy of the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office via CNA
Suspects include three family members surnamed Yen (顏), two relatives surnamed Pao (包), a man surnamed Mai (麥) and a man surnamed Ko (柯), who are residents of Dawu Village (大武村) in Pingtung County’s Wutai Township (霧台).
The judicial investigation began in December last year, when the carcass of a bear, a Formosan sambar deer, a Taiwanese serow and several wild goats were found at the Yen family home, leading to other people in the village being questioned as suspected accomplices in the illegal poaching.
The animals were native Taiwanese species and are protected with endangered status.
Prosecutors determined that six people were involved in the shooting of the black bear outside the village on Dec. 8 last year, as they had circulated photographs and a video showing them carrying the carcass back to the village.
“We later found the suspects had deleted files and other material from their mobile phones,” Chang said, adding that with the help of the Pingtung Police Bureau’s Digital Forensics Lab, they managed to recover photos and other records that showed the suspects had engaged in illegal poaching with hunting rifles, killing three other Formosan black bears within three years.
Based on evidence from photos, phone records and location searches, the first bear was killed in January 2020 and the second in May 2021 in a different location, but within Wutai Township, Chang said.
The third bear was shot and killed in October last year at a river valley about 4km from the village, Chang said.
“Deliberate killing of Taiwan’s protected species, which are already endangered, cannot be accepted by the public. It is highly regrettable to learn of these incidents, and we condemn the suspects for their actions,” the Forestry Bureau said in a statement.
Bureau officials also requested prosecutors to investigate whether the suspects were involved in the illegal trade of black bear carcasses and other protected animals, as there have been reports of restaurants offering “wild meat” dishes at high prices.
“It is up to everyone to protect Taiwan’s unique native species, to safeguard and conserve the forests and wildlife, which belong to society,” it said.
If people find an injured or entrapped bear, they should call the 24-hour hotline 0800-000-930 for rescue units to be dispatched, it added.
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