王吉娜實習日誌05: 動物保護機構

 動物保護機構

   今天，我們拜訪了動物保護機構的創始人王唯治先生。儘管他已退休，但我們有幸能與他交談，了解他的經歷。他向我們介紹了《動物保護法》的相關情況；該法案雖涵蓋所有脊椎動物，但在執法力度上，囓齒類和鳥類等小動物往往不如貓狗那麼受到重視。該機構致力於拯救和保護那些曾被人類當作寵物飼養、後遭遺棄並被迫流浪的動物。我們向他講述了在十分（Shifen）之行中看到的幾處關在籠子裡的動物；據了解，商家、農場和民宿為了吸引顧客而圈養異國動物的現象十分普遍。他告訴我們，可以透過撥打全國舉報熱線、直接向警方報案或寄信的方式進行舉報。鑑於籠中有一隻白狐──這種動物進口難度極大，極有可能是非法飼養的──這一情況尤其值得關注。

他也提到，該機構主張透過加強源頭管理（如要求辦理許可證、植入晶片以及實施絕育手術）來控制和管理動物數量，而不是採取撲殺手段。這與美國處理動物數量過剩問題的主要方式——撲殺——截然不同。在台灣，唯有原住民群體獲準進行狩獵活動，即便如此，他們也受到嚴格限制：必須使用特定工具，獲得政府許可，且僅限於獵捕特定種類的動物。

The Animal Protection Agency

  Today we met with the founder of the Animal Protection Agency, Weizhi Wang (王唯治). He has since retired, but we were lucky to be able to have the opportunity to speak to him and ask about his experience. He told us about the Animal Protection Act, which protects all vertebrae animals, but small animals like rodents and birds do not receive the same amount of enforcement compared to cats and dogs even though they are covered in the same law. They aim to save and protect animals that were captured or reared by humans as pets, but were later abandoned and forced to live as strays. We told him about a number of caged animals we found on our trip to Shifen, and apparently it is common for shops, farms, and homestays to house exotics animals in order to attract customers. He told us we can call the nationwide reporting hotline, report directly to the police, or send a letter. Since one of the creatures in the cages was a white fox, which is difficult to import, and it is most likely there illegally. 

He told us that the Animal Protection Agency advocates for a stronger emphasis on source management rather than culling to control and manage a population, which calls for requiring permits, placing a microchip in the animal, and spaying and neutering. This is different compared to the United States where culling is the major method to deal with overpopulation. The only groups in Taiwan that are allowed to hunt animals are actually indigenous groups, but even then they are required to use only certain tools, need government permission, and hunt only specific animals.