Leopard cat is the only one left local species of Taiwanese feline family with less than 500 animals. It’s extinguishing continuously. Taichung City Government has drafted the「Taichung City Leopard cat conservation self-governance articles」which passed the review in the City administration meeting today (26th) and will be announced to be effective after the the review of City Council for the conservation of Leopard cat. The officer of Agriculture Bureau said, Taichung is the first city to set the regulations for Leopard cat conservation, we wish to decrease the environmental chemicals and prevent the traffic accidents on the road to hurt the Leopard cats so we can build a friendly environment for them and conserve them alive.

The officer of Agriculture Bureau said, Taichung Flora Expo has changed the venues to conserve the habitat of Leopard cats so it’s highly recognized by International Organization of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and renamed as World Flora Expo from International Flora Expo. In order to conserve the Leopard cat a good habitat in advance and minimize the cause of threats, the City Government has invited frequently the scholars and experts, representatives from the administrative institutes, City Councilors, the representatives of environment protection group and the representatives of wildlife animal conservation group to discuss together and aggressively develop「Taichung City Leopard cat conservation self-governance articles」(Draft), then proposed to be reviewed in the city administration meeting and got approval to maintain the biological diversity and the ecological environment in Taichung City.

The officer of Agriculture Bureau said, Leopard cat is the critical indicative species in a hill ecosystem. It enriches the ecological environment in Taiwan but it’s de Yin numbers. Although the number of Leopard cats in Taichung are not the highest one, Taichung is the key area on the immigrating route of the Leopard cats. We hope we can start from Taichung to keep the number of the Leopard cats in short term and plan a series of Leopard cat conservation projects so we can increase the population of Leopard cats in terms of regulations and the cats’ living environment etc.

So far, the group survey of Leopard cats in Taichung is ongoing; the trails of Leopard cats have been found in Houli District, Xinshe District, Dongshi District and Beitun District. To build Taichung City as a friendly environment for Leopard cats systematically, the City Government will start from maintaining the country ecosystems and building a animal friendly environment based on clear governance articles and acts to drive every related institute to dedicate in the conservation of Leopard cats and save the habitats of Leopard cats.