The number of rhesus monkeys in Taiwan has increased significantly, and experts suggest that it should no longer be classified as "conserved wild animals."

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The number of conservation animals in Taiwan has increased from 200000 to nearly 300000 in more than a decade, and as far as habitat is concerned, the habitat area of rhesus monkeys has not reduced the pressure, when the population number and habitat area are gradually eliminated. Should Taiwan macaques continue to be included in the list of protected Wildlife? At the "expert meeting on key points of Wildlife Assessment and Classification" held by the Forestry Bureau a few days ago, the participating experts and scholars suggested that Taiwan macaques should be changed from "conservation category" to "general category." Yang Hongzhi, deputy director of the Forestry Bureau, said that a "Wildlife Advisory Committee" will be held in June, when a consensus will be reached.

After 30 years, the number of rhesus monkeys in Taiwan has increased. Scholars: conservation has been successful.

Why did the experts at the meeting put forward the idea of "hierarchical adjustment"? Lin Lianggong, a special professor in the Department of Life Sciences of Tunghai University, who is one of the committee members, pointed out from the point of view of "zoological conservation" that in general, there are certain principles for judging the conservation of "endangered species", including a small number of ethnic groups and few habitats. Although Taiwan rhesus monkeys faced survival crisis in the past because they were hunted and sold abroad as experimental subjects, they were even included in the list of conservation wild animals in 1978. "but after 30 years, the number of macaques is on the rise."

Lin believes that considering that there is no crisis pressure on Taiwan's macaques at present, not only is the number of ethnic groups increasing, but the area of national parks and nature reserves is also 18000 square kilometers. therefore, experts from the committee suggest that the conservation level of macaques in Taiwan be adjusted.

"in foreign countries, if this is the case with endangered species, countries will usually find ways to remove the 'conservation category' because it represents' conservation success'." Lin Lianggong stresses that even if Taiwan's macaque conservation level is adjusted to a "general category," it is still protected by the Wildlife Conservation Law, and hunting is still banned in national parks and nature reserves. "being classified as a general category does not mean that the amulet is gone."

From "endangered" to "non-endangered", animal protection groups: it is an international consensus to conserve primates

Although the expert meeting evaluated and recommended the adjustment of the conservation level of rhesus monkeys in Taiwan, macaque conservationist Lin Mei-yin put forward alternative thinking, saying that 54% of primate species and subspecies were listed as "endangered species" in the conservation red book of IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature. It can be said that it is an "international consensus" to include "non-human primates" as conservation species. "at present, few countries exclude primates from the conservation list."

"in such a precarious state of primate conservation in the world, rhesus monkeys can be conserved from 'vulnerable' to 'non-endangered'. We should cherish this achievement rather than as an excuse for demoting macaques." Lin Mei-yin stresses that even though Taiwan macaques are listed as "non-endangered" in the International Conservation Redbook, the ecological environment is still changing. "just because it is temporarily listed as non-endangered does not mean it is absolute."

Taiwan Macaque (Photography / Ke Jinyuan)

After changing the level of conservation, will the living space of Taiwanese macaques be affected?

Based on the principle of biological and ecological indicators of Taiwan macaques at the present stage, the "expert meeting on the key points of Wildlife Assessment and Classification" evaluates that Taiwan macaques should be adjusted from conservation animals to general animals. Lin Lianggong also points out that at present, Chinese conservation education has been successful. even if they are classified as general animals, they will not openly kill monkeys; even in areas such as national parks and nature reserves, there is still room for Taiwan macaques.

"although there is a wildlife protection law, the key point is whether there is' effective law enforcement'." However, Lin Mei-yin also raised her own concerns, saying that since Shoushan State is already at the national park level, there are still cases of poisoning, beatings, and even semi-paralysis of macaques bitten by domestic dogs from time to time. "the relevant units have worked very hard to maintain their habitat. But there is no way to stare at and put an end to these behaviors all day, and how can we convince people that habitat conservation has done a good job?"

Lin Mei-yin is worried that Taiwanese macaques are already conservation animals with a relatively negative image, and once they are reclassified as general animals, "I really have no idea what the consequences will be."

Forestry Bureau: a consensus was reached at the meeting in June

In this regard, Lin Lianggong believes that Chinese people have sufficient awareness of conservation, but he also puts forward Japanese practices for Taiwan's reference, saying that Japan's conservation measures are controlled areas, not species, and conservation is adopted in areas where the number of animal populations is small. In areas where endangered species crisis has been ruled out, animal hazards can also be dealt with effectively without indiscriminate killing. Lin has repeatedly stressed the importance of management and supervision.

Is it certain that Taiwan rhesus monkeys will be listed as conservation animals? At present, there is still no final conclusion. Yang Hongzhi, deputy director of the Forestry Bureau, said that at present, scholars and experts purely put forward scientific survey data over the years as the basis for judging the situation of ethnic groups, and monkey damage was not taken into account in the assessment process. The Forestry Bureau will convene a "Wildlife Advisory Committee" in June, when a consensus conclusion will be reached. If the conclusion confirms and amends the list of wildlife for conservation, a 60-day notice will be made in accordance with the administrative procedure, and then the administrative procedure will be announced.

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