TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following reports of poaching in Kenting National Park, police caught four men with a sika deer in their vehicle on Sunday (Sept. 29).
Police from Hengchun Precinct stopped a suspicious vehicle on Provincial Highway 26 at 2 a.m. on Sunday. They discovered the four men inside were concealing two rifles and a sika deer, per UDN.
Police brought the four individuals in for questioning on suspicion of poaching. In addition, their rifles were found to be unregistered and unlicensed, leading the men to face charges for possible violation of the Firearms, Ammunition, and Knives Act, which carries a punishment of three to seven years in prison and a maximum fine of NT$7 million.
The men identified include a 21-year-old surnamed Wang (王), a 20-year-old surnamed Tsao (曹), a 23-year-old surnamed Han (韓), and a 21-year-old surnamed Chiu (邱). All individuals are of Indigenous ethnicity.
They said they had traveled by truck to Kenting’s Hengchun and hunted the sika deer to eat it.
Another sika deer had been poached in Kenting National Park for its antlers. Police do not believe the two cases are related, as the means of hunting appeared different.
Police said the four individuals used homemade rifles. The case has been transferred to the prosecutor's office to determine the extent of the crimes.
