Strays not to blame for wildlife damage: group

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HUMAN FACTOR: The greatest threats faced by wild animals are the loss of their habitats and poaching, both of which are human-sourced, research showed

Stray dogs should not be blamed for the destruction of wildlife, an animal welfare group said on Saturday, adding that people are the main culprits.

The main threats to wild animals are poaching and the destruction of their habitat by humans, the Taiwan Animal Protection Monitor Network said, citing international research into wildlife endangerment.

However, online forums explode with calls for stray dogs to be put down whenever protected wild animals are killed or harmed by strays, the nonprofit said in a statement marking International Homeless Animals Day.

Photo: Tsai Wen-chu, Taipei Times

Taiwan in 2017 banned euthanizing stray animals at public shelters. Only those that have been diagnosed by veterinarians as terminally ill or infected with contagious diseases can be put down.

Over the past five years, 3,718 wild animals have been rescued in Taiwan, 1,633 of them with injuries, the group said, citing Council of Agriculture data.

Of the injured animals, 908 had been hurt in collisions with vehicles, 242 had been caught in traps laid by humans and 299 had been attacked by another animal, the group said.

Stray dogs were responsible for 190 of the animal attacks, the group said, adding that while dog attacks accounted for the majority in that category, dogs caused less than 20 percent of the total 1,633 injuries.

This does not mean the issue of stray dogs should be disregarded, but the solution lies in finding homes for them, the group said.

It urged the government to implement a trap, neuter, vaccinate and return program under which borough wardens, animal protection volunteers, and public and private animal welfare organizations would catch strays, have them neutered or spayed and vaccinated, and then released back to the streets .

Authorities should integrate their strategies, plans and resources to better protect wildlife, which is more likely to produce concrete results in the short term, the group said.

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