Comparing with bears or wolves, it is easier to protect deer maybe they are not carnivores. Today I would like to discuss Formosan sambar, the largest native herbivore in my country. Before immigrants arrived, there were a lot of Formosan sambars, Formosan sika deer, and Formosan barking deer. This is why many places have deer-related names, such as Lugang (Deer Port) or Luye (Uncultivated wilderness for deer). With destruction of habits and commercial hunting, Formosan sambars retreated from plains to deep mountains. Today the only way to see them is to hike for several days to the alpine areas. Many research projects also target on this species. One of my friends is a wild life photographer, and his and his team even camped in the mountain for one year in order to research those endangered species. I never hear Muir deer’s sound (maybe they are too shy and quiet), but you can go to the site and listen to their sound. Male and female basically have the same sound. http://archive.zo.ntu.edu.tw/english/mamm_sound.asp?mamm_id=M0061
Due to the lack of predators, Formosan sambars’ population is slowly and stably increasing. It is a great achievement for conservation; however it is an alarm for some protected plants. Two years ago, I saw the leaves of Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum (RP) were disappeared when I went a big hike; therefore I asked my indigenous guide for explanation. “Formosan sambars eat all the leaves,” said the guide. He further explained that it was a sign of overgrazing. Formosan sambars will usually avoid eating the leaves of RP for the plant contains some toxins (but the sambars can suffer it). The sambars will not eat RP unless they have no other choices. The overgrazing problem has become a hot potato for the authority.
I wonder if there were any similar cases in the U.S. What would you do if you were the authority of conservation?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Muir deer in West Village
Seeing wild mammals is not a usual experience in my country. If you want to see Formosan Macaque (Macaca cyclopis), you have to take Taipei metro rapid transit to the trailhead and then hike for an hour. You can usually see the monkeys jumping on the trees at dawn or at dusk. Seeing large mammals is even more difficult. You have to drive for more than 6-9 hours to trailheads and hike for one or two days. Then you can see large mammals such as Formosan Sambar (Cervus unicolor swinhoei).
Seeing wild mammals in residential areas is a very unique experience for a foreign student. One day on my way to school, I saw some droppings on the sidewalk. With chocolate-ball like shape, I knew who the producers were. Unfortunately I never had any opportunity to see those four-legged people. Two weeks later, I wanted to have some fresh air so I took a walk around my apartment. When I almost reached Foodhill Drive, I saw something, no, many things moving under the tree shades. I immediately ran back to my apartment to grab my camera. Finally I saw those “chocolate ball producers!”
They walked with grace and ease on the snow. They looked so lazy but they were very agile when they had to escape from the predators. I guessed they were here probably because they couldn’t find enough grass in the mountain. I sat on the grass for hours observing how they ate and walked, and how they listened to and watched strangers like me. It was worthy to spend an afternoon with those four-legged people for they wouldn’t stay here for the entire season.
I took some footages and photos and showed them to my wild life photographer friend. He has been working on Formosan Sambar documentary project for 3 years. He could not believe that deer actually strolled in the residential areas!
I would like to share the footages and photos with you. Look at their tails! Aren’t they adorable?
Footages:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1rQA7L7eDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evcnnpn8yU4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGeXYNlKpY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlIjGn6kCHA
Album:
http://album.blog.yam.com/kokopelle&folder=5542608
For tomorrow, I want to tell you some stories about Formosan Sambar.
Seeing wild mammals in residential areas is a very unique experience for a foreign student. One day on my way to school, I saw some droppings on the sidewalk. With chocolate-ball like shape, I knew who the producers were. Unfortunately I never had any opportunity to see those four-legged people. Two weeks later, I wanted to have some fresh air so I took a walk around my apartment. When I almost reached Foodhill Drive, I saw something, no, many things moving under the tree shades. I immediately ran back to my apartment to grab my camera. Finally I saw those “chocolate ball producers!”
They walked with grace and ease on the snow. They looked so lazy but they were very agile when they had to escape from the predators. I guessed they were here probably because they couldn’t find enough grass in the mountain. I sat on the grass for hours observing how they ate and walked, and how they listened to and watched strangers like me. It was worthy to spend an afternoon with those four-legged people for they wouldn’t stay here for the entire season.
I took some footages and photos and showed them to my wild life photographer friend. He has been working on Formosan Sambar documentary project for 3 years. He could not believe that deer actually strolled in the residential areas!
I would like to share the footages and photos with you. Look at their tails! Aren’t they adorable?
Footages:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1rQA7L7eDw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evcnnpn8yU4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGeXYNlKpY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlIjGn6kCHA
Album:
http://album.blog.yam.com/kokopelle&folder=5542608
For tomorrow, I want to tell you some stories about Formosan Sambar.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Recommend a book
There are two kinds of ecocritics. Some critics only live in the textual world, and avoiding essentialism is their doctrine. Others concern about texts too, but they also look for connections with the secular world. We touched this issue in Field Methods class when we talked about the relationship between ecocriticism and environment on Tuesday.
Now I would like to recommend this book:
Slovic, Scott. Going Away to Think: Engagement, Retreat, and Ecocritical Responsibility. Reno: U of Nevada P, 2008.
This book is an “ecological” edition of Edward Said’s “Secular Criticism” in which Prof. Slovic argues that ecocritics, instead of limiting themselves in the textual boundary, they “need contact not just with literature and not just with each other, but with the physical world” (30). The author uses an understandable language to explain what ecocriticism is to the ordinary readers. I think this book gives ecocriticism a dynamic new look.
I write this blog for a reason. Since we are taking different courses, and we will be required to read various books/essays. (Or you can recommend your favorite extracurricular works.) Maybe we can select some environmental related readings, write very short introductions, and then put the publication entries and the introductions on our EH blog. Guess what? We will have our own annotated bibliography for EH students! I’m not sure if this suggestion will work or not, but we can try it.
Now I would like to recommend this book:
Slovic, Scott. Going Away to Think: Engagement, Retreat, and Ecocritical Responsibility. Reno: U of Nevada P, 2008.
This book is an “ecological” edition of Edward Said’s “Secular Criticism” in which Prof. Slovic argues that ecocritics, instead of limiting themselves in the textual boundary, they “need contact not just with literature and not just with each other, but with the physical world” (30). The author uses an understandable language to explain what ecocriticism is to the ordinary readers. I think this book gives ecocriticism a dynamic new look.
I write this blog for a reason. Since we are taking different courses, and we will be required to read various books/essays. (Or you can recommend your favorite extracurricular works.) Maybe we can select some environmental related readings, write very short introductions, and then put the publication entries and the introductions on our EH blog. Guess what? We will have our own annotated bibliography for EH students! I’m not sure if this suggestion will work or not, but we can try it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
You can blog!
Today I would like to share my experience of blogging. Unlike like making a personal webpage, creating a blog is easy because you don’t have to learn HTML before you start your own blog. I don’t know anything about web editing but I can create my own blog. Most blog service providers have various templets for the user. All you have to do is to select your favorite templet and then make some minor changes, for instance adding a picture to make your blog more personalized.
As for what kind of content you would like to put on your blog? The sky is the limit. It is like keeping diary. The only difference is you write your stories with keyboard. You can write about how you feel when you just finish a good book. You can write about a family trip. Creative writing is excellent too! The content of your blog can be casual; it can be serious too. Some people even put their academic papers on their blogs.
With the advance of technology, it seems to me that almost everyone is electronically connected. Blog today becomes a medium to connect people or to form a community. You can meet people who share the same interest with you. For instence, I am interested in national park and native people issues; therefore I spend some time searching for some related information during the winter break. Believe it or not, I found a blog containing a lot of information about this issue. Later, to my surprise, I realized the blog owner is an indigenous with a MS degree in ecology. Most importantly, he is a higher official in one of our national park in Taiwan. Since then our conversation never ends. I believe building interpersonal connection is very important for EH students, and blog can help you do it!
In this digital, blog is your business card telling people your identity and your personality. Blog is also a good tool for education too. Many teachers create blogs for asynchronous learning of their courses. Blog is also a space to archive your memory with words, and you can laugh at your awkward sentences 5 years later. You don’t have to keep the blog everyday. But when you feel you have to write, blog is your choice.
Here is my blog: http://blog.yam.com/kokopelle
I hope you can have your own blog in the near future so that we can form an EH blog community.
As for what kind of content you would like to put on your blog? The sky is the limit. It is like keeping diary. The only difference is you write your stories with keyboard. You can write about how you feel when you just finish a good book. You can write about a family trip. Creative writing is excellent too! The content of your blog can be casual; it can be serious too. Some people even put their academic papers on their blogs.
With the advance of technology, it seems to me that almost everyone is electronically connected. Blog today becomes a medium to connect people or to form a community. You can meet people who share the same interest with you. For instence, I am interested in national park and native people issues; therefore I spend some time searching for some related information during the winter break. Believe it or not, I found a blog containing a lot of information about this issue. Later, to my surprise, I realized the blog owner is an indigenous with a MS degree in ecology. Most importantly, he is a higher official in one of our national park in Taiwan. Since then our conversation never ends. I believe building interpersonal connection is very important for EH students, and blog can help you do it!
In this digital, blog is your business card telling people your identity and your personality. Blog is also a good tool for education too. Many teachers create blogs for asynchronous learning of their courses. Blog is also a space to archive your memory with words, and you can laugh at your awkward sentences 5 years later. You don’t have to keep the blog everyday. But when you feel you have to write, blog is your choice.
Here is my blog: http://blog.yam.com/kokopelle
I hope you can have your own blog in the near future so that we can form an EH blog community.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Small Steps
When I am reading some books and essays about the water issues of the West, those readings trigger my worry of the drought (because we had a very serious drought in the northern part of Taiwan many years ago). Taipei Water Department always reminds people 有水當思無水之苦. It is a Chinese saying meaning “One has to consider the sufferings without the water when his or she still has plenty of water.” In our everyday life, there are many small steps that can help us live in a green way.
Well, toilet consumes a lot of water. My apartment’s toilet is an old system; therefore it is not a water-saving toilet. To make my toilet waste less water, I learn a useful skill from the department’s commercial.
1. Find an empty plastic bottle larger than 1 liter.
2. Fill the bottle with water, and make sure there is no air in the bottle (so that it will not float up in the tank). The bottle will still float even it is "almost" full.
3. Remove the tank cover, and put the bottle in the tank.
4. Cover the tank and you are done.
My juice bottle is 1.75L. It means I can save 1.75L of water when I flush. Think about it: how much water you can save whenever you use your improved toilet! At the same time, you can also recycle the used bottle. Isn't it a win-win situation?
Small steps, great contributions to the earth.
Well, toilet consumes a lot of water. My apartment’s toilet is an old system; therefore it is not a water-saving toilet. To make my toilet waste less water, I learn a useful skill from the department’s commercial.
1. Find an empty plastic bottle larger than 1 liter.
2. Fill the bottle with water, and make sure there is no air in the bottle (so that it will not float up in the tank). The bottle will still float even it is "almost" full.
3. Remove the tank cover, and put the bottle in the tank.
4. Cover the tank and you are done.
My juice bottle is 1.75L. It means I can save 1.75L of water when I flush. Think about it: how much water you can save whenever you use your improved toilet! At the same time, you can also recycle the used bottle. Isn't it a win-win situation?
Small steps, great contributions to the earth.
Ecocriticsim
We are going to discuss ecocriticism in Field Methods class this week. This recent-emergent literary discourse is new to most of us. The assigned readings provide us an outline that helps us understand this new discipline. Here I would like offer you some extra information about ecocriticism to give you a concrete picture about the discipline.
1. The Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE): An academic association of ecocriticism. If you want to know what scholars are doing in this discipline, you can check their conference program archive (http://www.asle.org/site/conferences/biennial/archives/). I think it is a good way to understand a discipline.
2. Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment (ISLE): an academic journal published by ASLE. With an emphasis of literary and cultural studies, it explores the human-nature relation. It is a very useful resource if you aim to take environmental literature as your professional goal. Here is their website: http://www.oxfordjournals.com/our_journals/isle/about.html
3. International scope: Well, one of my former department’s research focuses is ecocriticsim. We have biennial international conferences on ecological discourse. You can download our conference proceedings at http://www2.tku.edu.tw/~tfex/e/index.htm to understand what people are interested in outside the U.S. We had a conference last year and the greatest contribution of the conference was the birth of ASLE Taiwan, Republic of China!
If you have any comments of ecocriticism or if you have any additional information about the discipline, you are welcome to add your fellow-up discussions.
1. The Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE): An academic association of ecocriticism. If you want to know what scholars are doing in this discipline, you can check their conference program archive (http://www.asle.org/site/conferences/biennial/archives/). I think it is a good way to understand a discipline.
2. Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment (ISLE): an academic journal published by ASLE. With an emphasis of literary and cultural studies, it explores the human-nature relation. It is a very useful resource if you aim to take environmental literature as your professional goal. Here is their website: http://www.oxfordjournals.com/our_journals/isle/about.html
3. International scope: Well, one of my former department’s research focuses is ecocriticsim. We have biennial international conferences on ecological discourse. You can download our conference proceedings at http://www2.tku.edu.tw/~tfex/e/index.htm to understand what people are interested in outside the U.S. We had a conference last year and the greatest contribution of the conference was the birth of ASLE Taiwan, Republic of China!
If you have any comments of ecocriticism or if you have any additional information about the discipline, you are welcome to add your fellow-up discussions.
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