Bilingual text here: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026605W0AEA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description
雙語文字版: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026605W0AEA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description
Our official website: ➔ https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/
Follow us on
Facebook: ➔ https://www.facebook.com/ftvformosanews
X (Twitter): ➔ https://x.com/FTV_Taiwan_News
The Taichung City Government recently constructed an ecological park themed around rhinoceros beetles in Dongshi District. After its official opening in May, they held a ceremony to release beetles into the park. But now, visitors are discovering that the insects are dying off in unusual numbers. Some suspect the hot weather paired with insufficient shade is to blame, but the actual cause remains under investigation. In the meantime, the city said it would continue adding shade structures and misting machines to improve their habitat.
Visitors poke their heads around, searching high and low for rhinoceros beetles. Finally, someone spots one clinging to a tree trunk, but it appears listless.
- The environment here is too hot for them. They’re going to die from the heat.
- Rhinoceros beetles aren’t really suited to be out during the summer.
The Dongshi Rhinoceros Beetle Ecological Park is the first in Taiwan to be dedicated to the insect. It officially opened on May 11, and on May 30, a ceremony was held to introduce beetles to the park. But visitors have noticed they’re dying off for unknown reasons.
Member of public
Sad for beetles
It’s a shame the beetles are dying off. The park needs to have better facilities, or they’ll keep suffering for nothing.
Member of public
Cares for beetles
The trees haven’t grown dense enough yet. The environment over there isn’t great for them.
Member of public
Thinking about beetles
They haven’t necessarily died from heat. Their lifespan is short. It’s mating season now. After mating, the males typically die within a week.
To shed light on this mystery, experts have weighted in.
Voice of Lee Yu-hung
Beetle shop owner
Beetles have an internal circulatory system. When in direct sunlight, they can’t dissipate the heat. The thermal energy will keep building in their bodies until it kills them. The trees there are probably not big enough yet, meaning there isn’t enough shade for them to escape the sun.
Chen Chao-jen
Taichung Maintenance Office officer
The Maintenance Office promptly installed shade cover, mist machines, and other facilities to optimize the habitat.
The city said that rhinoceros beetles don’t live long and are vulnerable to injury or death due to high temperatures or after mating. Moving forward, it vowed to keep improving shade and misting facilities to keep improving their environment.
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
#rhinocerosbeetles #beetles #Taichung #ecologicalpark #animalwelfare #insects
#台灣新聞 #TaiwanNews #民視新聞 #FTV新聞 #Taiwan
