CHIAYI (TVBS News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FNCA, 林業及自然保育署) Chiayi Branch donated over 100 rare Japanese colonial-era specimens to the National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館) on Tuesday (June 17). Among these is a Taiwan clouded leopard specimen, once displayed at the 1935 Formosa Memorial Exhibition, symbolizing a significant academic contribution.
The agency's Chiayi branch revealed that they decided to donate the 127 specimens, initially housed in the museum in Alishan National Forest Recreation Area (阿里山國家森林遊樂區), after an internal evaluation. Director Lee Ting-chung (李定忠) noted that experts from the National Museum of Natural Science restored the specimens, which suffered damage during the 921 earthquake, and deemed them unsuitable for return to the Alishan Museum.
Lee emphasized the academic value of the donated specimens, which include one clouded leopard, 114 bird specimens, and 12 mammal specimens. He remarked that the clouded leopard specimen is one of the few remaining in Taiwan, highlighting its scholarly importance. The Chiayi branch mentioned that the Alishan Museum has displayed these specimens since its founding in 1935, marking over 90 years of history.
Both parties signed a donation contract and a memorandum of cooperation, aiming for long-term collaboration in specimen research, conservation, and educational outreach. This partnership promises to foster a mutually beneficial relationship and advance scientific and educational endeavors.
