The creek crucian carp is endemic to Taiwan, with less than 200 left in Taiwan.

(Reposted from the Taiwan Fisheries Database of Academia Sinica, photographed by Zhang Jiahao)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] Many stream fish species in Taiwan have been greatly reduced due to river improvement projects or the impact of development on their habitats. Conservation wild animals, the stream crucian carp will be listed as endangered wild animals; Chen's loach is a precious and rare wild animal; the middle loach, the sand-dwelling scoop-eyed tiger, the tail-scale sharp-toothed tiger, and the Akihito discovered by Emperor Akihito of Japan The twig goat and the genus Tunica are listed as protected wild animals.

The Forestry Bureau announced today that six new species of freshwater fish, including the stream slender crucian carp, the Chen's loach, the middle loach, the sand-dwelling gourd, the tail-scale sharp-toothed cat, the Mingren twig catfish, and the tenacious catfish, have been added to our country. Conservation wild animals, Zheng Yijuan, section chief of the Forest Service Conservation Section, said that the stream carp, middle loach, and Chen's carp are all endemic to Taiwan. Among them, it is estimated that there are less than 200 of the stream carp left in Taiwan.

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Zheng Yijuan said that at the beginning, some folks observed that these types of fish in the stream were decreasing year by year. After sending the relevant records to the Forest Service, the Bureau was evaluated by experts and scholars for about 2 years, and then sent to the Wildlife Advisory Committee for evaluation by members. Evaluate the distribution of wild populations of these brook fishes, population trends, whether they are facing habitat loss, commercial collection, hunting and utilization, etc., and whether they are facing threat factors, and decided to add these 6 species of brook fishes as protected wild animals.

The small crucian carp in streams mainly live in flat streams or independent water systems. Zheng Yijuan said that the decline of these stream fish populations is mainly threatened by habitat loss, such as habitat changes due to river improvement or construction of sand dams, and then Affects the number of groups.

In addition, taking the chrysalis as an example, due to its colorful appearance, many people regard the chrysalis as a freshwater ornamental fish, so fishing and other situations often occur. Zheng Yijuan said that after these fishes are now listed as protected animals, if they are caught or slaughtered for use According to the "Animal Protection Law", they will be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of more than 6 months and less than 5 years, and a fine of more than 200,000 yuan and less than 1 million yuan. Projects such as river improvement must also be included in the environmental impact assessment and undergo ecological inspection.

The notice period of the relevant regulations is 60 days, and these six species of brook fish will be included in the protected wild animals in the middle and late March at the earliest.