Research Achievements

a. Creation of the Wildlife First Aid Station (WFAS)

　　The Wildlife First Aid Station is primarily responsible for rescuing and treating wild animals that have been injured or have become ill in the wild. The aim is to release them back into the wild as soon as possible after treatment. Since its establishment on December 22, 1993, WFAS has treated over 3,000 wild animals. Of these, more than 1,000 were released after successful treatment. Each year, WFAS treats more than 400 animals. Birds make up the vast majority (80%). The WFAS at ESRI is Taiwan’s largest and most specialist wildlife veterinary hospital. WFAS has researched and designed specialist cages that meet the transportation, treatment, convalescence, release, display, and breeding requirements of different types of animal and help improve rates of recovery. In addition, WFAS has successfully documented the captive breeding and repopulation of the rare and protected endemic subspecies the Grass owl ( Tyto capensis Swinhoe). WFAS has also established the pharmacodynamics of liquid anesthetics, physiological response, antagonist use evaluation, and impact assessment of anesthesia gas on physiological values for two protected birds, the Collared scops owl ( Otus bakkamoena (Swinhoe)) and the Common kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus McClelland). This and other research is helping to greatly improve survival rates for the sick and injured animals being treated. Members of the public who discover wild animals in need of urgent treatment can bring them to the WFAS directly, or contact staff via the service line on (049) 276-1331 ext. 309.

b. Establishment of the Ecology Education Park

　　To implement native ecology education and call on ordinary citizens to respect and value the uniqueness and importance of native species, ESRI’s Division of Management created the 3.5-hectare Ecology Education Park using artificial habitat construction methods. Delineated by topography and characteristics, the Park is divided into the autumn-color area, river ecology area, evergreen broadleaf forest area, nectar plants area, grassland ecology area, marsh and pond ecology area, artificial forestation species area, rare and endangered plants area, and special-use plants area. Over 10,000 specimens from more than 600 endemic and native species are planted throughout the Park. The guiding system designed for the Park is based on bilingual (English-Chinese) interpretive signs and printed pamphlets that visitors can read at their leisure as they stroll through the Park. ESRI has also produced a multimedia DVD guide that can be accessed via ESRI’s website (www.tesri.gov.tw).

c. Wildlife Genetic Variation Research

　　ESRI’s researchers have completed genetic variation analysis and research for endangered and easily-threatened species in Taiwan like the Milky mangrove species Excoecaria agallocha L., E. formosana (Hayata) Hayata and E. kawakamii Hayata, the Barringtonia species Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz and Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Blume ex. DC, the Aristolochia (Birthwort) species Aristolochia zollingeriana Miq. and A. cucurbitifolia Hayata, the Taiwan ferret badger ( Melogale moschata subaurantiaca), the Crab-eating mongoose ( Herpestes urva (Hodgson)), the Formosan serow ( Naemorhedus swinhoei (Gray)), and the Formosan pangolin ( Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla Linnaeus). In addition, researchers have assisted government and criminal investigation bureaus with the work of identifying illegal wildlife product specimens.

 

Crab-eating Mongoose( Herpestes urva)(by Huang Shu-Fen)	Aristolochia zollingeriana Miq. (by Huang Chao-Cing)	Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz. (by Huang Chao-Cing)
Excoecaria kawakamii Hayata (by Ho Tung-Chi)	Formosan serow ( Naemorhedus swinhoei(Gray)) (by Chen Shu-Ling)	Taiwan ferret badger ( Melogale moschata subaurantiaca)(by Jhang Shih-Wei)