governments, have been matched by scientists and NGOs. We cannot,
however, generalize from these cases of charismatic animals to the treatment
of all endangered and threatened species in China.
Examples of Endangered Species in Taiwan
We examine just three endangered species in Taiwan, considering a fourth, the
black-faced spoonbill, in Chapter 8.
The Formosan black bear is a species of the Ursidaefamily, and is Taiwan’s
largest land mammal. They are covered with a thick coat of black fur in
wintertime, thus their name, but in summer their hair turns brown. With a
maximum weight of 200 kilograms, the black bears would be considered small
in the North American context.
The Formosan black bears are an endemic subspecies in Taiwan. They are
few in number, approximately 250. Their habitat is forested terrain in the
mountains at elevations of from 1000 to 3500 meters. Black bears are valuable
economically because of their pelts; and their organs (and bile) are used in
traditional Chinese medicine. For these reasons, they are subject to illegal
hunting, but perhaps the greatest threat to their long-term survival is habitat
loss and degradation.^45
Another mega-charismatic fauna endangered in Taiwan is the Formosan
clouded leopard. This long-bodied, long-tailed carnivore prefers densely
leaved forests, where it preys on deer as well as smaller animals such as
monkeys, birds and squirrels. The species is endemic to Taiwan and typically
is found at elevations above 1000 meters throughout the island.
Leopards, like tigers, are valuable for their pelts and their use in traditional
Chinese medicine. Thus, they are threatened by poaching and illegal
trafficking, notwithstanding attempts to protect them. Like the Formosan
black bear, their habitat is increasingly subject to degradation and loss because
of residential, commercial and agricultural development in Taiwan.^46
The Formosan landlocked salmon is a cold-water species and requires clear,
unpolluted waters with a temperature below 18°C to survive. This species is
migratory and inhabits slow-flowing streams with gently sloping beds at
elevations above 1500 meters.^47 The biological importance of the salmon was
first recognized during the Japanese colonial era (in 1938).^48 Increasing human
activities, for example the construction of dams and dikes, caused pollution
and blocked their migration route. Public outcry led to the salmon’s inclusion
on the protected species list in 1985, when restoration of the species
commenced. In 1989, the COA elevated its status to endangered, and its
habitat was incorporated in the Shei-Pa National Park (later designated as a
wildlife refuge).^49 However, frequent typhoons and the rise of temperatures
due to climate change remain a constant threat to the survival of the species.
54 Governance of biodiversity conservation in China and Taiwan