Infrared Cameras to Protect Wildlife Conservation Stolen One by One|監測小熊動態五台紅外線相機全部被偷

發布時間：2019/8/21 17:14 更新時間：2019/8/21 18:22

Veronica Lin

Following various sightings of the rare Formosan black bear near the Nanan Waterfall in Hualien, the Hualien Forest District Office and the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association have set up 5 infrared cameras around the area trying to capture their movements. However, the cameras have been stolen one by one.

This is the mountainous area of Zhuoxi Village in Hualien. Sightings of the Fomosan black bear was discovered here. To observe whether the bear cub and its mother travelled together, the Hualien Forest District Office set up 3 infrared cameras at the Walami Trail on July 30th. The cameras managed to capture images of the cub and its mother. However, these cameras have been stolen one by one.

On August 16th, our colleagues went to collect (the memory cards), and discovered that one of the three cameras was stolen. On August 20th, we discovered that the other two (cameras) were also stolen.

Furthermore, the association had also set up two additional infrared cameras in the mountains on the 19th, but it was also stolen in just a day. The thief had managed to steal the camera by breaking the chain and removing the camera together with its protective metal boxing.

I'm not sure why anyone wants to steal it. Its main purpose is only for the monitoring of wild animals. Meaning, when an animal passes by, it will activate its sensors. This can help us to save a lot of manpower.

According to the Forest District Office, the stolen cameras are worth over NT$10,000 each, but they are more concerned that the monitoring of the Formosan black bear and other wild life will be affected. Meanwhile, some worry that it could be bear hunters who had removed these cameras intentionally to allow them to perform illegal acts. The office says they will set up new cameras, but this time, they will ask the police to step up on their mountain patrols.

這裡是最近常出現黑熊的花蓮卓溪鄉山區，為了要掌握出沒的小熊是否有跟母熊在一起，花蓮林區管理處在7月30號就在瓦拉米步道口,架設了三台紅外線相機，隔天果然也拍到小熊跟母熊在一起，但這些相機已經陸續被偷。

林務局花蓮林區管理處長楊瑞芬表示：「8月16號的時候，我們的同仁去收(記憶卡)，發現三台其中有一台有失竊，8月20號，發現另外兩台也同時遭竊。」

此外，黑熊協會19號也在山區架設了兩台紅外線相機，沒想到隔天20號也被偷走，盜取這相機的人把鐵鍊敲開，連同保護鐵盒一併帶走，讓保育監測小熊的工作受到嚴重影響。

花蓮林管處育樂課技正楊青樺表示：「不清楚民眾如果竊取它，到底有什麼用途啦？因為它最主要是做野生動物的監測，那只要有動物經過，就會啟動它的感應裝置，可以幫助我們減少很多的人力。」

而根據林管處的資料，被竊取的紅外線相機一台要一萬多元，財產損失事小，重要的是對熊以及其它野生動物的監測就會受到影響，外界則是擔心是否有獵人故意偷走這些相機,想做違法的事，林管處會再前往架設紅外線相機，也會請警方加強山區巡邏。