Man sentenced to 1 year and 8 months for using drone to drop poisoned bait

According to the Central News Agency, a man surnamed Wang, the son of the founder of 'Zhang Mei Grandma Farm' in Yilan, was dissatisfied with an employee who left to work at another farm. He operated a drone to drop poisoned bait three times, resulting in the death of three animals and poisoning six others. The court sentenced Wang to 1 year and 8 months in prison without probation. According to the Yilan District Court judgment, Wang was the person in charge of 'Zhang Mei Grandma Farm' in 2023. Dissatisfied with an employee who left to become an animal manager at 'Star Dream Forest Theater,' he instructed unsuspecting employees to soak alfalfa pellets in a mixture of pesticides (Tofos, Paraquat) and water, then dye them with ink and dry them. On the early mornings of June 12, 24, and 25, 2023, Wang went to the road near the An-Nong River dike in Dongshan Township, tied cups containing the poisoned alfalfa to a drone, and flew it over the 'Star Dream Forest Theater,' shaking the drone to drop the bait. The miniature goat 'Xiaobai,' sika deer 'Yueyue,' and alpaca 'Dobby' died from pesticide poisoning after consuming the bait. Six other animals, including the miniature goat 'Latte,' sika deer 'Xixi,' 'Lele,' 'Xingmeng,' and alpacas 'Guru' and 'MoMo,' also suffered from poisoning but recovered after emergency treatment. Employees at the 'Star Dream Forest Theater' spotted the drone on the morning of June 25, followed it to the dike road, and caught Wang operating it, leading to his arrest. Police seized the drone, alfalfa, and pesticide remnants. Wang confessed in court and reached a settlement with the victims. However, the judge ruled that Wang's actions, driven by personal grudges, posed a severe threat to animal welfare and public safety, as tourists or staff could have been poisoned. The court sentenced him to 1 year and 8 months in prison and a fine of NT$600,000. The case can still be appealed.