Taiwan, once called "Formosa" by the Dutch, is semitropical in climate, mountainous in terrain, surrounded by the sea, and subject to abundant rainfall, a combination of mountain and ocean environments that form a number of different ecosystems. Those on land include tropical seacoast forests, hardwood forests, mixed forests, coniferous forests, grassy plains, and mountain tundra. Water ecosystems include creeks, marshes, lakes, river mouths, and coral rock formations. Such complex topography and environment have produced a wealth of plant and animal resources.

Taiwan's wildlife resources are not only abundant, but also rare and precious. Over the course of evolution, the island's special ecological and geographical environment has produced many species or subspecies unique to the island, such as the Taiwan serow, the Taiwan trout, Swinhoe's blue pheasant, the mikado pheasant, and the Orchid Island horned owl.

However, in the past decades, people in Taiwan or abroad have done a lot of damage, directly or indirectly, to these extraordinary creatures. As the economy has rapidly expanded and the population has increased, overexploitation of resources, misuse of land and reckless hunting have endangered the existence of many species of animals on the island, some of which have already become extinct. Irreversible damage of this kind is especially unfortunate.

Take the Plumbeous water redstart for example. It is found at an altitude of around 2,000 meters [6,600 ft] above sea level among creeks and ravines on the lower slopes of Taiwan's mountains, in what are more or less closed-off little worlds in the greater natural environment. Because the banks have been eroded and are poor in nutriments, the variety and quantity of life in the ravines are limited and the food chain is simple. But just because the food chain is simple, a change in the outside environment that disturbs a single link can destroy the whole chain. Living beside a chemically polluted river, how can these poor birds be unaffected?

Another case is the butterflies. With some 450 species of butterflies inhabiting its shores, a concentration among the highest in the world, Taiwan long enjoyed a reputation as a lepidopterist's paradise. When spring came, butterflies filled the air, flitting among the flowers and rivaling them in beauty. But their beautiful coloring made them prized targets. Depredations were particularly severe during the 1960s and 1970s, when prices for specimens were high. It is said that over 10,000 Orchid Island monarch butterflies were caught every year on Orchid Island, which has an area of just 46 square kilometers [18.4 sq mi]. Nowadays, even the most common butterfly can only be found in a few particular places.

The Chinese are notorious for eating wild animals. According to traditional Chinese herbal medicine, almost every animal can be eaten and many have various curative powers. This theory also led to the rapid decline in the number of wild animals. Creatures like the Formosan rock monkey, the Formosan sika, the Formosan boar, the Formosan black bear, and the Formosan pangolin have been hunted for their brains, leather, sinews, blood, bone marrow, etc. Actually, studies have proven that the curative effects of most animal parts can be as well provided by common vegetables or plants. As a result, there is no need for us to kill these poor animals.

The Taiwanese government finally passed legislation prohibiting the killing and exporting of wild animals in 1972, and these endangered animals thus got a chance to survive and reproduce. The Council of Agriculture has also made plans to protect and raise them. They seem to face a promising future, in which their numbers seem certain to grow. However, animals raised artificially will hardly resemble those in the wild. They may loose their instincts and talents for surviving in the wild. In rescuing endangered animals, we sincerely hope that quality will not suffer for quantity.