TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A coalition of conservation groups organized the annual “Walk for Wildlife” which drew 2,000 participants in downtown Taipei on Sunday (Nov. 10).
The event highlights the threat posed to endemic wild animals by stray dogs and cats, urging the government to improve the management of stray animals. Participants also called upon the public to curb the feeding of stray dogs and cats which can cause irreparable harm to native species, especially at ecological hotspots, per Liberty Times.
Wu Yi-ta (吳奕達), the coordinator of the event, said the goal of organizers was not to incite conflict with other animal rights groups but to highlight the dilemma that endemic species are facing from urbanization and development. Failure to address this issue means that neither strays nor endemic animals will be able to live well in the wild, according to Wu.
The inaugural “Walk for Wildlife” attracted 4,000 participants in 2023. The event attracted many university students who were angered by attacks from stray cats and dogs on endemic species such as pangolins and leopard cats.
According to Wu, wildlife is also threatened by factors such as unsafe road crossings and urban development. The public is encouraged to pay more attention to road signs that indicate animal crossings, potentially reducing speed or choosing other roads to better protect wild animals.
Supporting Team Social Enterprise Chief Executive Georny Liu (劉偉蘋) said feeding stray dogs and cats food will cause animals to gather in large numbers and increase the spread of infectious diseases. Liu said feeding strays may extend their lives, but their quality of life may be compromised, potentially leading many to live in an unhealthy state for many years.
Liu added that feeding strays can undermine municipal government work intended to reduce the number through trapping and neutering. Liu believed those who feed strays out of love and compassion should consider the negative impact of their actions such as the harm caused to wild animals.
National Taiwan Normal University Department of Life Science Professor Lin Si-min (林思民) said that in recent years, the focus of conservationists has been on promoting biodiversity. Lin said Taiwan should heed this call, as conservation measures must protect endemic species under threat.
On the issue of stray dogs and cats, Lin said the public should be aware that such animals are invasive species. While many school-aged students do not know this, changes to Taiwan's curriculum should reflect this to better protect Taiwan’s precious endemic species.
