National Parks of Taiwan

In recent years, the “turtle frenzy” in mainland China has resulted in massive hunting for Taiwan’sendemic yellow-margined box turtles, the purpose of which is to fill the demandin the pet, food, and medicine markets. Authorized by the Forestry Bureau, mostof the yellow-margined box turtles rescued from smuggling are temporarily shelteredby Dr. Wu Sheng-Hai’s research team at National Chung Hsing University.However, the large number of turtles sent to Dr. Wu has filled the lab. KentingNational Park Headquarters contacted Professor Wu and asked him to go on afield survey for a new reservation for the yellow-margined box turtles. Boththe Kenting National Park Headquarter and Professor Wu agreed that the Shedingspotted deer reservation is a perfect place because the low elevation mountainenvironment has always been a natural habitat for the yellow-margined boxturtles and the national park administration will be able to impose strictprotection for them. Therefore, the Forestry Bureau, National Chung HsingUniversity research team, and Kenting National ParkHeadquarters worked together to restore a habitat for approximately 200yellow-margined box turtles, utilizing part of the enclosed area in the spotteddeer reservation. During the restoration period, the population ofyellow-margined box turtles will provide a valuable resource for academicresearch and a good spot for Sheding’s development of eco-tourism andenvironmental education.