TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei Zoo celebrated its 110th anniversary on Saturday (Oct. 26) by hosting a series of speeches that highlighted the zoo’s commitment to conservation and elaborated on the theme “devotion to rewilding.”
The zoo said that protecting and conserving wild animal populations is its core value. It will focus on these 13 species through participation in both domestic and international conservation projects, per CNA.
Taipei Zoo selected 13 key conservation species for rewilding, including endemic Taiwanese wildlife such as the Taipei frog, pangolin, leopard cat, Eurasian otter, and Formosan black bear. This included Asian species like the Malay tapir, Malayan tiger, Asian elephant, red panda, and the roti snake-necked turtle as well as international species such as the western lowland gorilla, the Vietnam pheasant, and koala.
Pangolins in the zoo have traveled to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Japan to help establish overseas populations. To celebrate the zoo’s anniversary, a baby pangolin was born at the zoo last Friday (Oct. 25).
Taipei Zoo announced cooperative agreements promoting pangolins with the Vienna Zoo in Austria and Malayan tigers with the Singapore Zoo.
Taipei Zoo was founded in 1914 at its original location in Yuanshan and moved in 1986 to its current location in Muzha. Early on, it focused on displaying exotic animals, though it has since shifted attention to wildlife conservation, research, and education.
The zoo said the theme “devoting to rewilding” demonstrates the zoo’s commitment to conservation through international cooperation, scientific research, and education. The zoo provides a habitat for critically endangered animals that are temporarily unable to return to nature or in need of emergency resettlement or even assistance in reproduction.
Taipei Zoo welcomes the public to pick up an "activity passport" booklet at the zoo’s service desk booth and collect 15 stamps. Completing this task will allow one to redeem the passport for a special gift.
