invasive species

Man bitten by Thai cobra in central Taiwan: several times more venomous than native species

composite image showing snakebite victim in back of truck and government warning about cobras.
Animals Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Doctors who have been treating a man bitten by a snake in a mountain district of Taichung City earlier this month have concluded that the man was bitten by a Thai cobra, raising concerns of a dangerous invasive species gaining a foothold in the country. The 64-year-old man, named Zhou was hiking on the Dakeng No.9 trail shortly before dawn on November 2 when he was bitten on the ankle by a cobra. Zhou turned back to seek medical attention,

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Invasive giant toad species found in Taiwan

Rhinella marina in Taiwan
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

On of the top 100 invasive species in the world – the cane toad (Rhinella marina), has been found in Nantou County, Taiwan, according to the Nantou Forest Management Office. An amphibian conservation volunteer team recently discovered the toads in a vegetable garden in Caotun Township, Nantou County. The team undertook a search and removed 27 individuals from the garden. The Nantou Forest Management Office contacted Professor Yang Yiru of National Dong Hwa University, and in cooperation with conservation volunteers

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Taiwan winning war against invasive bird species thanks to aboriginal hunting skills

aboriginal hunters with African Sacred ibis
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

There should be only a handful of African sacred ibis left in Taiwan by the end of this year, according to the Forestry Bureau, thanks to the efforts of indigenous hunters who were brought in to deal with the invasive species after previous strategies had failed. In 2016, numbers of African sacred ibis were estimated at around 1,000 birds inhabiting wetlands in Changhua County and some other areas along the west coast. The population is believed to have grown from

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Invasive crazy ants threaten ecology, traditional customs on Orchid Island

woman holds land crab on Orchid Island
Culture Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Ecologists are warning that yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) have been found to be already established on Orchid Island, threatening a local species of land crab, and cultural workers say it could also affect important traditional customs of the indigenous Tao people. Professor Lin Chung-chi, an ecologist from the biology department at National Changhua Normal University recently led a team of students and researchers to the island, and found that the crazy ants are already established on the island. The

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Council of Agriculture successfully develops non-toxic weapon against fall army worm

fall armyworm detected in corn crop in Taiwan
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Researchers at the Council of Agriculture’s Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute (TACTRI) have developed trap for fall army worm which they hope to have on the market by June next year. Considered a serious global pest by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, the fall army worm was detected in Taiwan for the first time in June last year, and quickly spread around the island. The traps developed by TACTRI use a formula based on the

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Mutant invasive crayfish found infesting ponds in Taipei City park

marbled crayfish
Animals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A species of crayfish that reproduces asexually, and first appeared in Germany in 1995 before spreading through Europe and Africa, has been found infesting ponds in Da’an Forest Park, Taipei City. Taipei City Councilor Lo Chih-chiang (罗智强) held a press conference today, and said that a large number of the marbled crayfish had appeared in the ecological ponds of Da’an Forest Park. Lo revealed that the marbled crayfish were first discovered in the park in June last year by Associate

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Serious crop pest “fall armyworm” detected for the first time in Taiwan

fall armyworm detected in corn crop in Taiwan
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Agriculture officials confirmed today that caterpillars found on a farm in Miaoli County two days ago have been positively identified as fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda), an invasive species that has devastated crops across north America, Africa, the middle east, and continental Asia in recent years. The suspect larvae were found on a corn crop at the Flying Cow Ranch in Tongxiao Township, June 8, and were sent to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine for analysis.

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