Focus Taiwan
Date: 12/21/2020
By: Su Szu-yun and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Dec. 21 (CNA) The initial findings of an investigation into the recent deaths of 25 wild water buffaloes in Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei indicate that the animals were victims of malnutrition, the spokesman for the park headquarters said on Monday.

At a meeting of experts held by the Taipei City Animal Protection Office earlier in the day to discuss the issue, contagious diseases, pesticides and fences on the mountains were ruled out as causes of death, Chang Shun-fa (張順發) told CNA.

A "composite environmental factor" was blamed, he said, noting that the experts agreed according to preliminary indications that the deaths were associated with insufficient nutrition in the food sources of the breeding sites of the wild water buffaloes.

"Some cattle died of long-term malnutrition," Chang said, explaining that while there was an abundance of grasses in the area, they lacked protein and minerals.   [FULL  STORY]