The Forestry Bureau, together with the Hsinchu County Government, invited experts to the Leofoo Village Wildlife Park to investigate the baboon breeding site, looking for possible loopholes and deficiencies, and asked Leofoo Village to make improvements.

The picture shows the baboons in Leofoo Village.

(file photo)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] Leofoo Village Zoo admitted late the night before yesterday that the East African baboons who escaped to Taoyuan escaped from the park, highlighting the safety of the zoo’s facilities. If the equipment does not meet the standards, the penalty for the management of the owner will be increased from the original maximum of 50,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan. Lin Huaqing, director of the Forestry Bureau, said that the increase in fines is hoped The owner will take good care of the management penalties and will start to revise the administrative rules first, and it is expected to hit the road in April.

The Forestry Bureau, together with the Hsinchu County Government, invited three caregivers from the Taipei Municipal Zoo with rich experience in raising large primates, Wang Ying, a professor at Normal University specializing in wild animals and primate behavior, and Su Xiuhui, an associate professor at Ping University of Science and Technology. Leofoo Village Wildlife Park conducted a survey of the baboon breeding site, looking for possible loopholes and deficiencies, and asked Leofoo Village to make improvements; in addition, Chen Zhengwen, director of the Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute with professional animal image recognition, was invited to evaluate the group breeding of baboons in a wide area , How to use aerial images or infrared cameras to create a usable AI recognition model.

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In response to the controversy caused by the roundup incident, the Forestry Bureau has also sent a letter requesting the Taoshi government and the Zhuxian government to submit a detailed report on the whole story of the case as a case for future review and promotion. The Zhuxian government has managed the conservation of wild animals in Liufu Village Improperly issuing fines in accordance with the law, the Forestry Bureau also reminded the Taoshi government to evaluate the round-up expenses that have been claimed from Liufu Village for several days.

The Forestry Bureau also stated that it has kept in touch with the Taoyuan City Bureau of Agriculture since March 23 when it was notified of the discovery of wandering East African baboons. In addition to keeping abreast of the latest round-up progress, the Taoyuan Bureau of Agriculture also provided suggestions on tracking and rounding up baboons upon request. , also asked primate experts to help identify the species of baboons, and has coordinated two containment sites including Beishi Zoo and Ping University of Science and Technology, and also consulted experts to plan the kinship identification work after capturing baboons, so as to clarify its escape sources, and fulfill the powers and responsibilities of the central competent authority.

The Forestry Bureau has discussed and amended Articles 37 and 51 of the Wildlife Conservation Law to increase the penalties for owners who fail to properly manage protected wild animals. The cost will also be borne by the breeder. Lin Huaqing said that the draft amendment will be sent to the Political Yuan as soon as possible, and the "Administrative Measures for the Breeding and Breeding of Conservation or Dangerous Wild Animals" will also be amended, requiring the breeder to improve the anti-escape equipment. Those who meet the standards can be fined 60,000 to 300,000 yuan; the species of animals that should be marked and the way of marking (such as chips, tattoos, or ankle rings, etc.) will also be announced in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Law, and the management of individual wild animals under conservation will be strengthened.

Forest Service Director Lin Huaqing.

(Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)