Petr's First-Hand Rescue: The Silent Suffering of Snare Traps

Petr的第一手救援：套索陷阱無聲的苦難

During a recent exploration, I came across a heartbreaking scene all too common in some parts of Taiwan: a barking deer (Muntjac, 山羌) caught in a snare trap (山豬吊). The poor animal was clearly exhausted, and the cruel mechanical trap had broken its leg.

最近一次的探索中，我遇到了一個在台灣某些地區太常見的令人心碎的景象：一隻山羌困在山豬吊裡。這隻可憐的動物顯然已經筋疲力盡，而殘忍的機械陷阱弄斷了牠的腿。

After some effort, I managed to free the muntjac. Relief washed over me initially, but quickly turned to concern. With a broken leg, was it safe to release the animal back into the wild? Uncertainty led me to contact TAEA台灣動物平權促進會, with whom we collaborate on the issue of inhumane traps. They promptly connected me with the 臺北市1959 動物保護專線服務說明, who advised me to either wait with the animal for their arrival or bring it home. Given the remote location, a friend helped transport me and the injured muntjac to my house, where animal protection personnel arrived a couple of hours later.

費了一番功夫後，我設法解救了這隻山羌。起初，我鬆了一口氣，但很快就轉為擔憂。腿都斷了，將牠放回野外安全嗎？不確定感讓我聯繫了台灣動物平權促進會TAEA，我們在這個不人道陷阱的議題上有所合作。他們迅速地幫我聯繫了臺北市1959動物保護專線服務說明，他們建議我可以在原地等待他們的到來，或者先把動物帶回家。考量到地點偏遠，一位朋友幫忙載我和受傷的山羌回家，幾個小時後，動保人員就抵達了。

Initially, I was optimistic. The muntjac was relatively calm, and the injury seemed localized to the leg, leading me to believe it had a good chance of survival. However, we later learned that muntjacs, like many wild animals caught in such traumatic circumstances, can succumb to shock. Even if the physical wound isn't immediately fatal, the stress of the capture and transport can be devastating, sometimes leading to a refusal to eat or drink, and ultimately, death.

起初，我很樂觀。這隻山羌相對平靜，傷勢似乎只在腿部，這讓我相信牠很有機會存活下來。然而，我們後來得知，像許多在這種創傷情況下被捕獲的野生動物一樣，山羌可能會因休克而死亡。即使身體上的傷口沒有立即致命，捕捉和運輸的壓力也可能是毀滅性的，有時會導致牠們拒絕進食或飲水，最終死亡。

Thankfully, the following day brought positive news: the rescued muntjac was stable and likely to survive. Once fully recovered, the plan is to release it back in its original habitat.

幸運的是，第二天傳來了好消息：獲救的山羌情況穩定，很可能會存活下來。完全康復後，計畫將牠放回原棲息地。

TAEA member message:
I just called the Shengduosuo Wildlife Emergency Station.
He said the muntjac had a broken left front toe and is still undergoing treatment.
At present, it is judged that there is a possibility of rehabilitation and release into the wild, and euthanasia will not be performed.
Its basic information: male, weighing about 7 kg, thin, a little dehydrated, and must have been lassoed for a few days.

 
TAEA:
我剛才打電話去生多所野生動物急救站了。
他說那隻山羌是左前腳指斷裂，目前還在治療中。
目前判斷是有康復、野放的可能，不會安樂死。
牠的基本資料：公，體重約7公斤，偏瘦，有一點脫水，應該已經中套索幾天了。

This experience has only strengthened our resolve against the use of these indiscriminate mechanical snare traps. Often set by individuals who may lack the necessary skills or responsibility, these traps can leave animals to suffer for days without being checked. While the government promotes so-called "improved" snare traps, these modifications primarily aim to avoid catching protected species like the black bear. They still pose a significant threat to non-target animals, including domestic pets like dogs and cats, as well as other wildlife.

這次的經歷更加堅定了我們反對使用這些不分青紅皂白的機械式套索陷阱的決心。這些陷阱通常由可能缺乏必要技能或責任感的人設置，可能會讓動物在無人查看的情況下痛苦數日。雖然政府提倡所謂的「改良式」套索陷阱，但這些修改主要目的是避免捕獲像台灣黑熊這樣的保育類動物。它們仍然對非目標動物構成重大威脅，包括狗和貓等家寵，以及其他野生動物。

Furthermore, there is a complete lack of guidance on responsible trapping practices: how often traps should be checked, how to humanely dispatch an animal if necessary, or how to safely release unintended captures. This lack of protocol leaves those who set these traps with few options other than to potentially kill non-target animals or, even worse, leave them to a slow and agonizing death through dehydration or self-mutilation.

Do those who set these traps truly know how to safely release the unwanted victims?
那些設置陷阱的人，真的知道如何安全地釋放誤捕的動物嗎？

此外，對於負責任的狩獵陷阱使用方式完全缺乏指導：陷阱應該多久檢查一次、如何在必要時人道地處置動物，或者如何安全地釋放意外捕獲的動物。這種缺乏規範的情況使得設置陷阱的人幾乎沒有其他選擇，只能可能殺死非目標動物，或者更糟的是，讓牠們因脫水或自殘而緩慢痛苦地死去。

We believe these cruel devices have no place in responsible wildlife management. My wife is aboriginal, and these mechanical traps, the parts for which you can freely buy online, are not part of aboriginal people's hunting tradition. We urge you to learn more about this issue and to consider signing the petition to ban these inhumane snare traps (全面禁止台灣殘忍套索陷阱山豬吊 https://reurl.cc/aZRneZ). You can find a link to the petition in the full article on our website. Let's work together to prevent the silent suffering caused by these indiscriminate traps.

我們認為這些殘酷的裝置在負責任的野生動物管理中沒有任何地位。我的妻子是原住民，而這些可以在網路上自由購買零件的機械陷阱，並非原住民傳統狩獵文化的一部分。我們敦促您更深入了解這個議題，並考慮簽署這份要求全面禁止這些不人道套索陷阱的請願書（全面禁止台灣殘忍套索陷阱山豬吊 https://reurl.cc/aZRneZ）。讓我們共同努力，阻止這些不分青紅皂白的陷阱所造成的無聲苦難。

Wildlife Rescue Station (UPDATE 4 days later): 
The barking deer was unable to stand after arriving at the station. It likely suffered from capture myopathy, which often leads to death. Additionally, when a herbivore cannot stand, its digestive system ceases to function. Therefore, its condition was not good, and it died four days after admission.

 
野生動物急救站(4天後更新):
野生動物急救站：山羌進站後一直無法站立，可能有捕捉後肌病，很容易導致死亡，同時草食獸無法站立消化道會停滯，因此牠的狀況不太好，在進站4天後死亡。

Petr Novotny & Eva lobo
Beast Runners 跑山獸

全面禁止台灣殘忍套索陷阱山豬吊
https://reurl.cc/aZRneZ

山豬吊陷阱

Compression Spring Snares Traps

山豬吊陷阱因其簡單易設，廣泛用於捕捉野生動物。然而，這類機械式陷阱不分對象，造成許多流浪動物與野生動物的傷亡，帶來嚴重的生態問題。在台灣，許多被棄養的流浪狗和貓會在尋找食物時誤入山豬吊，最終因長時間受困而受傷或死亡，成為無辜的受害者。如今，這些陷阱可以輕易在網路上購得，即使沒有獵捕知識的民眾也能隨意設置，進一步增加了動物受害的風險。儘管有些人認為山豬吊是傳統的狩獵方式，事實上，台灣原住民的狩獵講求技巧與尊重生態，並不依賴這類機械式陷阱。這種狩獵方法無法區分目標動物，容易造成不必要的犧牲。

The snare trap is widely used to capture wildlife due to its simplicity and ease of setup. However, this type of mechanical trap is indiscriminate, causing the injury or death of many stray animals and wildlife, leading to serious ecological issues. In Taiwan, many abandoned stray dogs and cats, while searching for food, inadvertently get caught in snare traps and suffer injuries or death due to prolonged confinement, becoming innocent victims. Nowadays, these traps can easily be purchased online, and even individuals without hunting knowledge can set them up, further increasing the risk to animals. Although some believe snare traps are part of traditional hunting methods, the reality is that indigenous hunting in Taiwan emphasizes skill and ecological respect, not reliance on such mechanical traps. This hunting method cannot differentiate between target animals, leading to unnecessary sacrifices. 

連署書 PETITION

(international can sign too)
Ban Inhumane Compression Spring Snares Traps (wild boar snares) in Taiwan
全面禁止台灣殘忍套索陷阱山豬吊
https://reurl.cc/aZRneZ

Petr的建議(Petr`s opinion)

Petr認為，狩獵應基於尊重生命，設置陷阱時應具備專業技能，定期巡視並放生誤捕的動物。山豬吊陷阱缺乏監管，造成動物長時間受困，與負責任的狩獵方式截然不同。我們應該推動相關法規，禁止販售與使用山豬吊。此外也在此呼籲不要隨意棄養動物，每一條生命都應該被珍惜與照顧。讓我們一起行動，為動物創造更安全的環境，並守護我們的自然生態。

Petr believes that hunting should be based on respect for life, and traps should only be set by those with professional skills who regularly check traps and release any unintended animals. The lack of regulation for snare traps results in animals being trapped for long periods, which is in stark contrast to responsible hunting practices. We should push for relevant laws to prohibit the sale and use of snare traps. Furthermore, we also call for an end to the casual abandonment of animals. Every life deserves to be cherished and cared for. Let us take action together to create a safer environment for animals and protect our natural ecology.

失蹤農夫之謎與殘酷的動物陷阱
The Mystery of the Missing Farmer and Cruel Animal Traps

Video 影片: https://youtu.be/kjEi8aSk0zk
Video 影片 (part where Petr encounter traps 19:54+): https://youtu.be/kjEi8aSk0zk?si=pHtUtG54Arw8DNz0&t=1194

I found a cruel trap that had caught a small barking deer (麂屬 muntjac).
These traps (山豬吊 wild boar snare) are a big problem in Taiwan.
They use a metal wire and spring mechanism to catch animals.
When an animal steps on the trap, it tightens a wire around their leg.
Causing severe injuries or death by exhaustion as it struggles to escape.
These traps are really dangerous for wildlife and dogs or cats.
Since 2020, over 100 animals have been hurt or killed by them each year.
In 2023, that number went over 300, which shows the problem is getting worse.
And these are just a fraction of reported cases.
Taiwan doesn't have good laws about these traps.
It's illegal to use them, but people can still make and sell them.
This means there are a lot of illegal traps around.
The trap setting is now illegal but not really subject to legal sanctions.
Due various reasons the government has no intention to control the manufacturing or law enforcement actions to ban it.
Instead, the Forestry Department promoted so call "improved hunting equipment" 「改良式獵具」.
At most, it can only reduce the risk of adult black bears being trapped (the trigger pedal is smaller), but it will still affect other smaller animals such as Leopard cat (石虎), civet (白鼻心) or mongoose (食蟹獴).
It causes serious injuries to dogs and cats.

我發現一隻山羌（麂屬）被一個殘忍的陷阱困住了。
這些陷阱（山豬吊）在台灣是個大問題。
當動物踩到陷阱時，金屬線會迅速收緊，纏住牠們的腿。
動物在掙扎逃脫的過程中會受到嚴重傷害，甚至因體力耗盡而死亡。
這些陷阱對野生動物，以及狗或貓都非常危險。
自2020年以來，每年有超過100隻動物因此受傷或死亡。
到了2023年，這個數量已超過300，顯示問題正在惡化中。
而這些僅僅是報告的部分案例。
台灣對這些陷阱的相關法規並不完善。
雖然使用這些陷阱是違法的，但人們製造和販賣陷阱卻不在法律規範的範疇裡。
這意味著有許多非法的陷阱散布在各地。
設置陷阱現在雖然違法，但未能起到有效的法律效用。
由於各種原因，政府並沒有計劃管理陷阱的製造，或進行相關法律行動來禁止它們。
取而代之的是，林務部推出了所謂的「改良式獵具」。
這些改良獵具最多只能降低成熊被困的風險（觸發踏板變小了），但仍然會傷害到較小的動物，比如石虎，白鼻心，或這隻驚慌的食蟹獴。
這些陷阱對狗和貓造成了嚴重傷害。

Even our dog Aqua got in to clutch trap (notice my hands - she bites me when I tried release her (even when she had head in bag))
就連我們的狗Aqua也遭遇過陷阱（注意我手上的狀況）

Mother of small babies - just one of the stories

our friend care another street dog and its babies
but she got 2nd time trapped for week, babies were taken by volunteers
she still died due serious infection

在我騎車的途中看到這隻狗}
我們的朋友照顧另一隻流浪狗和它的小狗們
#2 但她第二次被困了整整一週，小狗們被志工帶走了

Related Articles:

TAEA 台灣動物平權促進會 Taiwan Animal Equality Association
https://taeanimal.org.tw/

The tragedy of illegal and rampant hunting of animals with wild boar snares
https://www.endsnares.org/end-snares-eng

TAEA「改良式」山豬吊和傳統山豬吊一樣殘酷！
The "Improved" wild boar lift is just as cruel as the traditional wild boar lift!
https://taeanimal.org.tw/model_action.php?sn=1600

針對林保署山豬吊說法 vs 動生盟七大駁斥
https://www.endsnares.org/seven-major-rebuttals-to-the-moa-on-the-wild-boar-snaring-issue

【為動物發聲】禁用殘忍山豬吊-網路連署
Ban the cruel practice of wild boar snares - Online PETITION  (only in Taiwan)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3XFj8QF568nJ1jzvBuHQ_zbPTyKwUhCp4IfynLYrBHoQV4A/viewform

Responsibilty of pet owners! 飼主責任有哪些!
https://taeanimal.org.tw/projects/owners-duty/