Department of Economic Development

This year (2024), Taipei City Animal Protection Office is partnering with Taiwan Nature Trail Society to host 35 educational sessions starting from June 22. These sessions will be held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:10 AM to 12:10 PM or 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on trails frequented by macaques in Beitou, Neihu, and Wenshan districts. Additionally, five special sessions will be held in collaboration with the Yangmingshan National Park Headquaters Administration along the Xia-Cigu section of Yangmingshan's Macao. Through these educational initiatives, the public will gain insights into the lifestyle and ecological behaviors of macaques while learning to coexist with them by following the "no feeding, no disturbing, no contact" principles for wild animals. 

Taipei City Animal Protection Office reported that Taipei, surrounded by mountains on three sides, experienced over ten sightings of macaques in 2023. These sightings occurred in the mountainous areas of Shilin, Beitou, Neihu, and Wenshan districts, with macaques occasionally wandering into nearby communities, schools, farmland, or trails. To educate the public on how to coexist with macaques and emphasize the "no feeding, no disturbing, no contact" principles, the Animal Protection Office continues to collaborate with conservation groups. They host educational activities in Taipei's schools, communities, and hiking trails, with their highly praised trail educational sessions now in their fifth year.

This year, the program has been expanded to include the Xia-Cigu section of Yangmingshan's Macao. The goal is to offer real-time education, helping the public understand macaque behaviors and promoting peaceful coexistence. This initiative aims to prevent conflicts between humans and macaques, thereby preserving the integrity of the ecosystem and ensuring the welfare of wildlife.

Taipei City Animal Protection Office emphasizes that human-macaque conflicts arise from overlapping habitats. Macaques, being omnivores, do not descend from the mountains due to hunger but are attracted to areas where they have become accustomed to being fed by humans. This feeding behavior not only perpetuates conflicts but also poses a risk of transmitting zoonoses.

Therefore, it’s essential to adhere to the "no feeding, no disturbing, no contact" principles with wildlife to mitigate human-macaque conflicts. The Animal Protection Office encourages everyone to explore along the Provincial Highway 2A to the Xia-Cigu section of Yangmingshan, wander the Tianmu Histovic Trail, and other popular spots. Learn effective ways for calmly encountering macaques from volunteer educators. For more information, visit https://www.naturetrail.org.tw/news_view.php?id=292!