Wildlife in Taiwan

Abstract

In the spring of 1967 Philip Wayre and his wife took 15 pairs of the rare Swinhoe's pheasant, bred at the Ornamental Pheasant Trust, in Norfolk, of which he is Hon. Director, to Taiwan (Formosa), where this pheasant is endemic, to supplement the sadly reduced wild stock and also provide a captive breeding nucleus for further releases. This article describes the return of the pheasants, and also the wildlife situation in Taiwan, particularly the dangerous demands of the tourist trade for stuffed animals and birds, and for goods decorated with the gorgeous butterflies of Taiwan. These butterflies are being collected in millions to decorate plastic trays and tablecloths.