Wuling area habitat recovery reforestation successful──the effect of typhoons on the Formosa landlocked salmon has been reduced

Typhoon Sinlaku and Typhoon Jangmi hit Taiwan in October this year, bringing some of the heaviest rain ever seen in the Wuling area and causing the water flow in the home in Cijawan Creek, the home of the Formosa landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus), to quickly rise to a level much higher than usual and making the water murky.

Research has found that after a typhoon a significant number of the young salmon under 15 cm long die, mainly because they are relatively weak swimmers and are washed by the powerful water flow downstream or are injured by the gravel in the water.

In recent years, strong typhoons have resulted in the death of at least 50% of the Formosa landlocked salmon population. Typhoon Sinlaku and Typhoon Jangmi’s rain and impact were greater than strong typhoons of the recent past, however, the salmon population only saw a 30% reduction, showing that Shei-pa National Park Headquarters’ research and conservation measures, including habitat recovery reforestation, dam improvement and inclusion of the Wuling area in long-term ecological monitoring work, have achieved initial results. In the future, overall habitat restoration and monitoring will be the focus of effort so that the Formosa landlocked salmon can live in the creeks and streams of the Wuling area forever.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Shei-pa National Park Headquarters