The short-eared owl, a class 2 protected wild animal, accidentally hit the bird-proof netting at Kinmen Airport in early February this year (112). After being rescued by the Kinmen County Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association, it was assessed that the individual's flight ability was normal and it met the standards for release into the wild. Today (2) On the same day, Huang Yi-ping, deputy director of the Kinmen National Park Headquarters, National Park Service (the Headquarters), and teachers and students of Xian'an Elementary School's Xiao'an Lake Branch Campus jointly released the short-eared owl back into the wild with everyone's blessings.
After the short-eared owl was released into the wild, the Headquarters visited schools to conduct environmental education campaigns. Staff from the Kinmen County Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association introduced common raptors in Kinmen and emphasized the importance of wildlife rescue and conservation to the school children. The participating students showed great enthusiasm and mentioned that it was their first time seeing a short-eared owl. Through these promotions, everyone can learn more about the wild animals that share our land and how to peacefully coexist with them in our daily lives. The Headquarters also expressed gratitude to the teachers and students of Xian'an Elementary School Anhu Branch Campus for their ongoing attention to and promotion of ecological conservation.
The Headquarters stated that being entangled in net traps is the main reason for the rescue of raptors in the Kinmen area. Among them, the short-eared owl and the kestrel (falco tinnunculus), two raptors that like to move in agricultural fields, are the most vulnerable. These raptors mainly prey on small animals. Mammals and birds can reduce the number of rodents and small birds in the fields and are good helpers for farmers. The public is urged to reduce the use of nets to prevent birds and instead use raptor perches and other methods to repel birds to achieve eco-friendliness. If the public finds an injured bird caught in a net or an injured bird that requires human intervention, please call the Headquarters at 082-313173 or the Kinmen County Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association at 082-333587.