New Taipei opens first wildlife rescue center

新北市開設首座野生動物救傷中心

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei has opened its first wildlife rescue and shelter center in Sanzhi District, as demand for rescue services continues to rise, with an estimated 6,000 wild animals injured each year.

The facility upgrades an existing shelter into a more comprehensive rescue and rehabilitation center, providing injured wildlife with improved chances of recovery and release back into the wild, per CNA.

Yang Shu-fang (楊淑方), director of the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office, said the center addresses the increase in wildlife rescue cases. The center offers a unified, 24-hour command-and-dispatch service to respond more effectively to incidents.

The facility includes dedicated feeding and medical rooms for wildlife. Cages are equipped with a pulley and rail system, allowing flexible spatial adjustments while maintaining separation between humans and animals to balance safety and care needs.

The center is equipped to rehabilitate mammals, birds of prey, amphibians, and reptiles. Simulated habitats tailored to different species have been constructed. Small mammals are provided with elevated walkways for climbing and activity, while indoor and outdoor enclosures feature ponds and perches for amphibians and reptiles.

In previous years, the number of rescued wildlife in New Taipei averaged just over 2,000 annually, but from September to March this year, 4,477 wildlife rescues were recorded, and approximately 6,000 are forecast for the full year.

According to the office, growing public awareness of animal conservation, combined with urban development and habitat disruption, has led to a rise in rescues. Commonly rescued species include spotted doves, herons, birds of prey, masked palm civets, Reeves’s muntjacs, giant flying squirrels, Formosan macaques, and pangolins.