“Mountain rat” confesses to killing endangered Formosan black bear

One of two leaders of a group of “mountain rats” – a term used in Taiwan to describe illegal loggers and timber thieves – confessed to killing, skinning, and eating a Formosan black bear, after bones were found in his camp, and pictures were found on his phone. Fifty police and 36 forestry personnel were mobilized May 7 to search for timber thieves in seven locations in Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taoyuan City mountain districts, after a four-month-long investigation,

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Ancient Tree Falls in Nantou: 3 Injured

Three people were injured, one seriously, when a 2,800 year-old tree toppled over in a forest recreation area in Nantou County, Sunday, September 11. At around 1:00pm, witnesses heard a large cracking sound as the tree fell into the car park at the Xitou recreation area. A 55 year-old man, a 68 year-old man, and a 49 year-old woman were hit by the tree. The woman’s condition was described as seriously injured but conscious. The tree was a 2,800 year-old

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