TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A bamboo dog-proof fence has been installed around an island in the Budai Salt Fields in Chiayi County to protect the little tern, a Class II rare and valuable species, per CNA.

Designated as a national-level wetland and an important breeding ground for migratory birds, the site prompted the Chiayi County Government to commission local expert Tsai Fu-chang (蔡福昌) to lead construction of the fence. The fence aims to reduce disturbances from stray dogs and provide a safer breeding environment.

The little tern is a migratory species from the Southern Hemisphere that arrives in Taiwan each April to breed, with a peak breeding season from May to August. It typically departs around September.

According to the Ocean Conservation Administration, Taiwan’s population of adult little terns reached 3,185 in 2023. Key breeding habitats in Chiayi County include the Budai Salt Fields, Budai Wetland Ecological Park, the Xinwen Retention Basin, and Baishui Lake.

The Budai Salt Fields host the most stable population, with around 700 breeding adults, accounting for approximately 25% of the national total. Monitoring showed that stray dogs entering the salt field islands during the breeding season have damaged nests and caused chick mortality, prompting the government to implement habitat improvements.

A circular bamboo fence has been erected around the island, with gaps to allow birds to pass freely. Sheltering spaces made from planks and paving stones have also been added to provide hiding places.

A buffer zone of two to three meters has been maintained around the fence to help prevent stray dogs from entering, improving conditions for bird activity and habitat protection. The Chiayi County Agriculture Department urged the public not to abandon or feed stray dogs, emphasizing that ecological conservation requires a collective effort to protect the environment.