NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The iconic Elephant Trunk Rock at New Taipei City's popular tourist spot was left without its "trunk" on Saturday (Dec. 16), after the elongated rock formation resembling an elephant's trunk snapped off likely due to heavy rain and winds.
The photo of the damaged landmark quickly garnered significant attention after being posted online.
According to Yang Sheng-min, a head of the Ruifang District Office, the initial assessment pointed to severe weather as the cause of the damage, but further investigations are required to determine the exact cause.
Elephant Trunk Rock, located near the Shenao fishing harbor in Ruifang District, remains an area of concern as rainfall persists and rough seas continue unabated, challenging maritime patrol officers and related units who earlier made efforts to approach and assess the situation.
Lin Wen-ching, a head of Ruifang's Xin Zheng Village, noted that natural erosion or the impact from strong waves might be responsible for the breakage of the rock formation's prominent feature.
Shen Chin-feng, the chairman of the Wild Bird Society of Keelung, highlighted that human activities have previously contributed to the rock's wear and tear. Tourists climbing on the rock and fishers driving iron chains into it have caused noticeable damage over time.