202308/07
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) has established a long-term monitoring network for Taiwan’s medium and large-sized mammals in recent years, installing a total of 326 infrared automatic cameras by the end of 2022. The monitoring results show that the relative abundance of mammals that use the forest ecosystem as their habitat, including Protected Species like Formosan sambar deer, Taiwan serow, and yellow-throated marten, as well as that of General Wildlife like the Formosan rock macaque, reeves's muntjac, Formosan hare, and Formosan weasel continue to increase. The relative abundance of Protected Species, such as the Formosan Pangolin and small Chinese civet, as well as that of General Wildlife, such as the Formosan wild boar, Formosan gem-faced civet, etc., remain stable. Regarding the Formosan black bear, although more data needs to be collected, its relative abundance has also been increasing year by year. All in all, the populations of forest species have either remained stable or continue to grow.
The FANCA stated that the trends of wildlife population dynamics are an important reference for formulating conservation policies, but fundamental data relies on long-term research and monitoring. Since 2015, the FANCA has commissioned a team from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) to gradually and systematically establish a long-term monitoring network of automated infrared cameras on the main island of Taiwan, totaling 191 sampling points. From 2019-2020, a total of 60 sampling points were added to nature reserves and Major Wildlife Habitats; from 2020-2022, a total of 75 additional camera sampling points were added for black bears. Using standardized operating procedures, distribution data and ecological data for medium and large-sized animals is recorded over a long period of time, and population trends are monitored for each species.
Population of Formosan Ferret-Badgers Has Stabilized, Population of Formosan Rock Macaque is Increasing, But Leopard Cats Are Still Endangered
The FANCA explained that in recent years the Formosan sambar deer, reeves's muntjac, Taiwan serow, yellow-throated marten, Formosan weasel, small Chinese civet, and Formosan gem-faced civet continuously show stable or increasing population trends. Regarding the 2013 rabies outbreak among the Formosan ferret-badger population, according to analysis of research data and rabies monitoring results from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, it was found that the Formosan ferret-badger population gradually declined since the outbreak. However, after the epidemic slowed in 2018, their population began to stabilize.
The abundance of the Formosan rock macaque, which was reclassified as General Species in 2019, shows a significant increase in all four regions of Taiwan (Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern), with Eastern Taiwan showing the biggest spike.
As for the leopard cat, pictures of it have only been taken at sampling points in three counties, namely Miaoli, Nantou, and Taichung. Although the monitoring for leopard cat population density in Nantou has shown that its population is stable and population density is increasing, the overall relative abundance has not yet stabilized.
Formosan Black Bear Population Looking Optimistic, However Strict Prevention Against Human-Bear Conflicts Remains in Place
In recent years, Formosan black bear sightings have kept pouring in; results of long-term monitoring also show the annual average relative abundance of Formosan black bears is significantly positively correlated with time, indicating relative abundance increases year by year. However, more data needs to be accumulated to statistically confirm that the population of black bears has increased significantly. The FANCA explained that from 2020, the 75 cameras installed captured pictures of Formosan black bears in almost every month except for February and December of 2021 and January, February, and August of 2022. This year, monitoring cameras will be set up at new locations where black bear sightings have been recorded, or signs such as black bear excrement and scratches have been observed, and the growth trend of Formosan black bear populations will soon be determined.
Comparing monitoring data and information from people’s sightings with the range of past black bear activity shows that the range of black bear activity has expanded into low-elevation mountains. It’s estimated that the number of sightings in mountain villages and settlements may gradually increase in the future. In response, the FANCA will strengthen conflict management, promote coexistence between humans and wild animals, and provide necessary assistance to reduce human-bear conflicts.
National Forests are Well Conserved, Yet Low-Elevation Mountains and Agro-Ecosystems Face Future Conservation Challenges
The FANCA further explained that the key reason why forest animal populations remain stable or continue to increase is because of the national forests located in Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range. After many years of continuous restoration and protection, forest ecosystems can now provide sufficient food resources and breeding grounds for wild animals and plants. In contrast, leopard cats are primarily found in hills and low-elevation mountain farms outside of national forests. Their existence is impacted by humans on a large scale in the form of habitat loss from land development, forests gradually regrowing due to reduction of agricultural and forestry activities, misuse of pesticides and rodenticides, roadkill, stray dogs and cats, etc. Therefore, the FANCA has continually collaborated with different departments through the “Taiwan Ecological Network” to connect various types of habitats. It also encourages local residents to transition to eco-friendly farming and assist in habitat protection through the “Payments for Ecosystem Services for Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Promotion Program” with the goal of improving the habitat of the leopard cat and other species in low-elevation mountain areas.
The FANCA has stated that currently, most cameras are situated within national forests. In the future, it plans to install cameras in hills and plains outside of national forests across Taiwan for long-term monitoring. This expansion aims to enhance the analysis of long-term population trends of wildlife. Besides providing references for academic research, this will also provide references for assessing the Protected Species List and formulating conservation strategies, preserving the sustainability of Taiwan’s biodiversity resources.