Taipei: Around 2,000 people took to the streets in Taipei on Sunday to appeal for better stray animal management and improved wildlife conservation, according to the event's organizer, Taiwan Walk for Wildlife (TWW). The 2024 Walk for Wildlife, a one-hour march that looped through streets near the Legislative Yuan, began after TWW members, wildlife conservation experts, and legislators from across party lines delivered remarks. According to Focus Taiwan, Wu Yi-ta, the march's general coordinator, emphasized the need for government action to manage and reduce stray dogs and cats, particularly in ecological hotspots. Stray animals pose a threat to wildlife by hunting native species and competing for resources, leading to reduced survival rates and disrupted ecosystems. Leopard cats, with only about 500 remaining in the wild in Taiwan, are especially vulnerable to these threats. Wu noted that automated cameras in the wild show that 90 percent of captured footage of leopard cats also includes stray dogs and cat s. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) initiated a pilot project in 2023 to protect leopard cats by relocating stray dogs and prohibiting feeding in ecological hotspots. However, Wu expressed dissatisfaction with the program, citing local governments' lack of authority and responsibility to enforce measures and a general lack of awareness. Wu presented a petition to Chiang Wen-chuan, head of the MOA's Animal Welfare Department, who acknowledged the demands and stated that authorities would promote measures with social consensus and tighten stray dog control in some areas. Chiang highlighted the complexity of the issue, particularly in rural areas where residents have limited understanding of animal and wildlife protection and tend to feed stray dogs. Among the marchers, Peggy Murray, an educator focused on wild bird conservation, pointed out the unintended harm caused by feeding stray animals in the wild. Originally from Canada, Murray shared her hope that both Canadians and Taiwanese would refra in from feeding cats in the wild to protect wildlife. The event also included a conservation-themed market and exhibitions, attracting around 5,000 participants in total.
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