The Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters has been found accountable for the massive deaths of wild water buffaloes at Qingtiangang last winter. Control Yuan members believe the process of setting up wire fences was careless and negligent and ordered the administration to correct itself.
Jao Yung-ching, Member, Control Yuan: “The committee approved that Yangmingshan National Park should correct itself.”
Last winter, a large number of feral water buffaloes died at Yangmingshan's Qingtiangang Grassland. As of February this year, 50 water buffaloes have died in Qingtiangang, Dingshan to Shitiling, and Huangzuishan areas. The Control Yuan's investigation found that the decision to install barbed wire fences was inadequate and proposed the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters to rectify the situation.
Jao Yung-ching, Member, Control Yuan: “The wire fence policy was improper and imprudent. It was a waste of NT$2.309 million in public funds. It was built in the beginning and then quickly demolished, causing a large number of water buffalo deaths.”
The Control Yuan pointed out that the headquarters did not consult experts, conservation groups, and the public in detail. Barbed wire fences were installed in the Qingtiangang area in 2019. After a large number of water buffaloes died, money was spent to dismantle the fence's eastern and southern sides. The decision-making process was sloppy and wasted public funds. The whole incident also highlighted that the water buffaloes' health is affected by factors such as habitat conditions and climate, which the park headquarters lacks in understanding and research.
Chang Shun-fa, Spokesperson, Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters: “Our information at the time was not complete. The fence was indeed set up based on safety considerations. We have already started research on the habit, which will be ongoing. We will monitor weather conditions, refer to expert opinions, and also deal with humanitarian care.”
YNP headquarters responded after reviewing Control Yuan's report, it will continue to improve. Relevant research on the water buffaloes is already being carried out. At present, more than ten water buffaloes are living at Qingtiangang. If the weather during winter is not good, humanitarian care and emergency rescue will be provided when necessary.
去年冬季，陽明山擎天崗出現無主野化水牛的大量死亡事件，到今年二月為止，在擎天崗、頂山到石梯嶺，以及磺嘴山地區，共有50頭水牛死亡。監察委員調查認為，陽管處設置刺鐵絲圍籬的決策太輕率，提案糾正。
監察委員趙永清指出:「這個設置鐵絲圍籬，這個政策是有不當、流於輕率、虛耗公帑、核有違失，等於是浪費了230萬9千元。你看當初興建了，然後，後來很快又拆除了，造成水牛大量死亡的事件。」
監委指出，陽管處沒有詳細徵詢專家、保育團體和社會大眾意見，在108年施作擎天崗地區的刺鐵絲圍籬，等爆發水牛大量死亡案後，又花錢拆除東、南側圍籬。決策流程草率、虛耗公帑。與此同時，整起事件也凸顯出，水牛的健康和容受力是會因為棲地條件、氣候等因素影響，但陽管處也欠缺了解和研究。
陽管處發言人張順發回應:「當時的一個資訊並沒有那麼的完整，確實是基於安全考量有設置圍籬、習性的一個調查，我們已經有開始做持續的一個調查研究，會視天候的狀況，參考專家的意見，我們也會來處理（人道關懷等）。」
陽管處回應表示，針對監委提出的內容，都會持續改進，目前也已經在對水牛進行相關研究。現在擎天崗可以看到還有10多頭水牛棲息，如果冬季氣候不佳，基於人道關懷，也會在必要時刻提供緊急救護。
