The Taipei Zoo has joined hands with the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture (COA), the Executive Yuan, to establish a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in the zoo.
The center assists in the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered species that mainly are reptiles, such as tortoises, freshwater turtles, snakes, and lizards. It also shelters amphibians, mammals, and birds. Besides the medical care of these species, it takes action to reserve and recover wild species from endangered status through various ways.
As for native species, the center frequently received yellow-margined box turtles and Asian yellow pond turtles after being confiscated due to smuggling. So far, some individuals have successfully returned to suitable habitats, and the center keeps moving forward to protect our country’s precious turtles.