A new type of low-intensity gun is being used to scare away nuisance macaques. Formosan rock macaques are a pest in some parts of Taiwan, and often help themselves to farmers’ crops. Now the Forestry Bureau is training farmers to use “animal dispersal guns” to give monkeys a warning to get off their land. These guns have been designed not to kill macaques, but just to give them a nasty warning.

A macaque climbs up and down the roof, his friend sitting at one side enjoying the breeze. The Forestry Bureau has a new trick to try to prevent macaques from entering human spaces.

A forestry official picks up the gun, takes aim and fires. These six guns have been bought to teach local farmers how to become sharp shooters, to keep away the macaques that are more and more of a nuisance.

The monkeys are completely brazen in running around farmers’ orchards, stealing citrus fruit. Even if somebody chases one away, they are barely disturbed. But this is a new trick.

With a clang, the gun releases a plastic pellet that is not fatal for a monkey but can give a wild animal a serious shock. In recent days, the Yilan branch of the Forestry Bureau has invited a pro team of shooting trainers to their Dongshan Station, to give a class on how to drive wild animals away with shooting. Local residents have also come to practice using the weapons.

Liu Chi-pin
Forestry Bureau Yilan Branch Office
The dispersal guns create a noise and pain, so if a wild animal is hit by a bullet from a dispersal gun, they will feel pain and remember than physically.

The animal dispersal guns are sold legally. But after purchase, they must be registered and buyers must sign an affidavit promising not to adapt them. If the gun is examined and found to have been adapted or used on people, there are serious consequences.

Liu Chi-pin
Forestry Bureau Yilan Branch Office
If farmers are in a region threatened by macaques, they can go online or find a platform or an online retailer to buy these animal dispersal guns.

Through training and education programs, the Forestry Bureau hopes these guns will help people in rural areas attain a better balance with the four-legged creatures on their land.

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