Legislator Calls for App-Based Monkey Damage Reporting akin to Rat Incidents; Minister Chen Chun-chi: Will Do Immediately
A legislator proposed using an app, similar to one for reporting rat sightings, to track monkey damage to crops and assist farmers. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi agreed to immediately implement such a system by leveraging existing disaster reporting apps.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 13:44
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 14:01 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 14:14 (12 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter Chen Chun-Hua, Taipei 6th) — Some netizens have developed a rat map for the public to report hot spots where rats appear. A legislator suggested that "monkey damage" could adopt a similar approach to track agricultural losses and assist farmers. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi said that the existing app for natural disaster surveys can be directly utilized, citing stray dogs as an example where everyone reports them, adding, "We will do it immediately."
Taipei's rat infestation has drawn attention, with netizens developing the "Rat Radar" webpage for the public to report rat sightings. It only takes three steps to help update information, and there's also a "bait distribution" category so pet owners can avoid those areas.
The Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today invited Chen Chun-chi and others to attend to review amendments to parts of the Soil and Water Conservation Act, the Slopeland Conservation and Utilization Act, and the Agricultural Development Act.
DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying questioned, noting the recent severe rat infestation in Taipei, that some people designed a webpage where they can mark areas with many rats online. Farmers in remote mountainous areas suffer greatly from "monkey damage." She asked if the Ministry of Agriculture could adopt a similar approach to understand which areas are severely affected by monkey damage, observe crop damage, and then know how to assist farmers.
Minister Chen Chun-chi responded that the Ministry of Agriculture's stance is that wild animals should not be included in the Agricultural Development Act, but that doesn't mean they won't be dealt with. Monkey damage is very serious, even more severe than natural disasters, because it can happen daily. "Basically, it will be handled by compensation," he said.
Chen Chun-chi stated that this part can be directly utilized in the natural disaster survey app. For example, stray dogs are currently reported by everyone, and such a mechanism will be initiated. "We will do it immediately." Chiu Yi-ying replied that many farmers might not be clear, and the Ministry of Agriculture needs to do more publicity, emphasizing that establishing a proactive observation system is important.
In addition, DPP Legislator Lai Ruei-lung pointed out that reticulated pythons have appeared in Kaohsiung, and experts do not rule out that they have reproduced. A special project should be launched for their removal to prevent them from becoming difficult to handle like green iguanas once they gather in groups. Reticulated pythons are also large and dangerous, so they should be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent their spread.
Chen Chun-chi said that they had previously wanted to list reticulated pythons as prohibited imports, as abandoning them after people no longer want to keep them causes great trouble. Reticulated pythons grow very quickly and large, easily causing public panic. A special project will be launched to assist in their removal.
Chen Chun-chi stated that it will not be like the previous situation with green iguanas, where initial inaction in removal led to uncontrollable consequences. They will actively handle and specially remove them. (Editor: Zhai Si-Jia) 1150506
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Taipei's rat infestation has drawn attention, with netizens developing the "Rat Radar" webpage for the public to report rat sightings. It only takes three steps to help update information, and there's also a "bait distribution" category so pet owners can avoid those areas.
The Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today invited Chen Chun-chi and others to attend to review amendments to parts of the Soil and Water Conservation Act, the Slopeland Conservation and Utilization Act, and the Agricultural Development Act.
DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying questioned, noting the recent severe rat infestation in Taipei, that some people designed a webpage where they can mark areas with many rats online. Farmers in remote mountainous areas suffer greatly from "monkey damage." She asked if the Ministry of Agriculture could adopt a similar approach to understand which areas are severely affected by monkey damage, observe crop damage, and then know how to assist farmers.
Minister Chen Chun-chi responded that the Ministry of Agriculture's stance is that wild animals should not be included in the Agricultural Development Act, but that doesn't mean they won't be dealt with. Monkey damage is very serious, even more severe than natural disasters, because it can happen daily. "Basically, it will be handled by compensation," he said.
Chen Chun-chi stated that this part can be directly utilized in the natural disaster survey app. For example, stray dogs are currently reported by everyone, and such a mechanism will be initiated. "We will do it immediately." Chiu Yi-ying replied that many farmers might not be clear, and the Ministry of Agriculture needs to do more publicity, emphasizing that establishing a proactive observation system is important.
In addition, DPP Legislator Lai Ruei-lung pointed out that reticulated pythons have appeared in Kaohsiung, and experts do not rule out that they have reproduced. A special project should be launched for their removal to prevent them from becoming difficult to handle like green iguanas once they gather in groups. Reticulated pythons are also large and dangerous, so they should be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent their spread.
Chen Chun-chi said that they had previously wanted to list reticulated pythons as prohibited imports, as abandoning them after people no longer want to keep them causes great trouble. Reticulated pythons grow very quickly and large, easily causing public panic. A special project will be launched to assist in their removal.
Chen Chun-chi stated that it will not be like the previous situation with green iguanas, where initial inaction in removal led to uncontrollable consequences. They will actively handle and specially remove them. (Editor: Zhai Si-Jia) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
Text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.