TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Shei-Pa National Park Administration (雪霸國家公園管理處) reported Tuesday (Jan. 6) that the wild population of Formosan Landlocked Salmon (台灣櫻花鉤吻鮭) reached approximately 16,020 fish. The endangered species, found only in Taiwan, remained stable and unaffected by weather conditions during monitoring from June to October 2025. The finding highlights the continued stability of the critically endangered species despite global climate challenges affecting Taiwan's mountain ecosystems.
Liao Lin-yan (廖林彥), head of the Wuling Station, stated that the count marks the third-highest in the species' recorded history. Liao emphasized that the stability of the salmon population over the past five years indicates a mature and resilient habitat in the mountain streams. Liao stated that the continuous stability of the population shows that the habitat has matured after 30 years of restoration efforts by conservation authorities.
The administration, in collaboration with Ginger Aviation (勁捷航空), implemented a helicopter release operation in September 2025 to transport salmon to remote habitats. The method ensured the safe and rapid arrival of fish at their target habitat, reducing both human workload and fish mortality risk during transport. The operation completed the historical habitat restoration for the Formosan Landlocked Salmon at the upper reaches of Sijielan Creek (司界蘭溪) in Taiwan's mountains.
Shei-Pa National Park Administration plans to establish a "National Treasure Fish Ecological Experience Classroom" this year to integrate research findings and expand environmental education. The administration emphasized that the salmon's stability results from comprehensive watershed conservation efforts involving cooperation between public and private sectors in Taiwan. Officials stated that this successful conservation model could serve as a reference for future work in other mountainous streams or with other endangered species. ◼