It’s been a frustrating year for anyone who loves to travel. Throughout 2021, the risk of catching COVID-19 in another country, combined with strict quarantine requirements for those returning to Taiwan, deterred all but a few people from traveling overseas for fun. And just as Taiwanese were beginning to make plans for the summer, a domestic outbreak forced the government to raise the epidemic alert to level 3.
The situation is now much better. Taiwanese are once again able to enjoy all sorts of leisure activities. Night markets are crowded and tour groups have been making good use of the
Environmental Impact Assessment: How to be a responsible herper
An abbreviated guide on how to spot animals in the wild both day and night and not disturb them and their habitat
By Steven Crook / Contributing reporter
Last November, visitors to Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) were warned not to leave any car windows open near the Baiyang Trail (白楊步道), after several tourists reported seeing Formosan rock macaques break into vehicles and search for food. Around the same time, another macaque troop got a reputation for grabbing snacks from sightseers’ hands at the park’s Tiansiang Service Station (天祥遊客服務站).
Such occurrences are exceptional, however. In Taiwan, the wildlife-human interface is far more often traumatic for the former than for the latter.