Taipei Zoo

In celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Snake, Taipei Zoo has unveiled a series of installations and limited-edition commemorative items inspired by the Red-Bellied Annulate Keelback. This species, designated as a critically endangered aquatic reptile by the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency in April 2024, primarily inhabits freshwater environments. In recent years, it has only been recorded in northern Taiwan, with no sightings south of Hsinchu. Due to habitat destruction and pesticide pollution, wild populations have significantly declined. The zoo, in collaboration with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and academia, is actively rescuing this endangered species and engaging in ex-situ conservation breeding efforts to prepare for future reintroduction initiatives aimed at rebuilding the wild population. 

The installations in the zoo depict the Red-Bellied Annulate Keelback 's unique behavior of emerging from the water, although many visitors mistakenly identify them as garden eels. During the 2025 Lunar New Year, the zoo will debut the Red-Bellied Annulate Keelback at the Amphibian and Reptile House. Visitors are invited to not only enjoy the exhibits but also learn about the ecology of snakes, their conservation efforts, and raise awareness on the protection of wetlands and wildlife.