NTU Malayan Night Heron Killed in Traffic Accident, Students Hope for Slow-Down Signs
Text by Zhang Chuanjia; data provided by Lin Zhe'an
On the 9th of this month, a Malayan night heron (Gorsachius melanolophus), jokingly called the "big dumb bird" by National Taiwan University students, was hit by a car at the corner near the Zhenxing lawn in front of the Main Library on the campus's Coconut Palm Boulevard... and went to heaven!
Student Liu, a witness at the scene, said that when she and a friend were walking along Coconut Palm Boulevard a little after two in the afternoon, the car accelerated at the turn. Although the speed was not especially fast, the Malayan night heron suddenly rushed out from the azalea bushes. "The big dumb bird did not know to dodge when it saw the car, nor did it fly." It was then run over by the car.
Students from the conservation club who rushed to the scene after receiving the news said, "The Malayan night heron was torn open, with a trail of blood stretching several meters, and internal organs dropped onto the road. It was quite a gruesome sight." After confirming that the dead Malayan night heron wore no color band[1] that could be used for identification, it was sent to the Endemic Species Research Institute.
4. Do not take it for granted that "as soon as a car approaches, an animal will automatically dodge." This idea often does not apply. Yielding appropriately and waiting for animals to cross the road is necessary.
5. Do not simply blame the driver. Instead, keep the idea that "animals may cross the road anywhere" in your heart and pay more attention from now on. This is the fundamental solution. Let us create a campus where people and animals live together in peace!
Supplementary information:
The wildlife laboratory led by Yuan Xiaowei, a professor in the Department of Forestry at National Taiwan University, has spent several years tracking the distribution and behavior of Malayan night herons on campus! Professor Yuan also invites everyone to help record Malayan night herons!
- Website: [Wanted!!! Wanted: Malayan Night Heron] http://malayannightheron.blogspot.tw/
- [NTU Malayan Night Heron Sighting Reporting System] After clicking in, you can report to the wildlife laboratory the date, time, location of appearance, right-foot color band (white-white, white-yellow, white-orange, etc.), left-foot color band (white/metal, yellow/metal, etc.), environment, and so on, to assist research on Malayan night herons! https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFRIMjBaVEtxSHpYeWhKdGo0am9oSXc6MQ
- [NTU Malayan Night Heron Activity Map] Everyone is welcome to edit it together! https://maps.google.com.tw/maps/ms?vps=3&jsv=338a&brcurrent=h3,0x3442aa2c194b66cd:0x1ea97d148ba72564,,0x3442ac6b61db
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Original URL: http://www.spoonduckyilan.blogspot.tw/2014/01/blog-post.html