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Home » Southern Taiwan

Southern Taiwan

Taiwan Monkeys Of The Formosa Rock Monkey Family

September 2, 2018 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

taiwan monkeysTaiwan Monkeys Having Lunch In The Garden

The Taiwan monkeys of Taiwan are situated off the coast of mainland China, is a small island nation that is part of the Republic of China. Taiwan, rich in wildlife and flora, has many amazing animals and spectacular flowers. One of these magnificent animals is the Formosan Rock Monkey, also called the Formosan Rock Macaques. These cute and mischievous monkeys are the only monkey native to Taiwan. These cute little monkeys, love trees, but they are not a major part of their environment. What they do love are tropical forests, temperate forests, and bamboo forests. On occasion, you will even find them living in the vast grasslands. Though they are excellent climbers, more than not, they prefer to stay on the forest floor. Though they are found all over the island, they are not seen as often near the coastal beaches. Since many keep building near the beaches, they are going deeper into the forests.

The Formosan Rock Monkeys are omnivores, so they eat many different plants, fruits, seeds, leaves, and small animals and insects. This monkey, in the above picture, is enjoying a rich banana for his lunch. Since they are comfortable around people, they often visit farms and consume a dinner rich in the crops of the planted fields. They love foraging for food among the fields at harvest time, though this can bring conflict with the farmers. On occasion it gets them killed, but they are protected by law as a disappearing species.

taiwan monkeysPlayful Baby Formosan Rock Monkey Testing Out The Vines

Though trees and vines are not a necessity for the Formosan Rock Monkey, these babies love to play in all the vines found in the jungle forest. Have you ever seen a young monkey that did not want to swing? This little fella is no exception, as he is swinging and playing with the vines found in his native forest playground in the mountains of Southern Taiwan.

taiwan monkeysFormosan Rock Money With Large Cheek Pouches

If you have ever watched a chipmunk foraging for nuts and acorns, you will notice that they have huge pouches in their cheeks. Just like their little friend, the chipmunk, the Formosan Rock Monkey gathers the seeds, fruit, leaves, and other goodies he finds in the forest and carries them home in his special shopping bag, his cheek pouches. How convenient to have a built in a shopping bag that allows them to hoard their food and carry it home for a later time. The Formosan Rock Monkey, like the ant, prepares well for the future and the family.

taiwan monkeysClose up Of The Facial Features Of The Formosan Rock Money

The Formosan Rock Monkey is considered a medium-sized monkey that in winter has a beautiful dark grey to brown coat. During the warmer days of summer, his coat changes to olive or brown color. The different color changes help them to blend in with the foliage of the plants in the jungle. In the above photo, you will notice the salmon pink face. They have no hair on the face at all. Naturally, you can see the large cheek pouches that he carries his bounty after a profitable foraging session. The Formosan Rock Monkey is very resourceful!

taiwan monkeysJuvenal Taiwan monkeys Love To Play

Formosan Rock Monkeys live in troops ranging from eight members to forty-five members. Juvenal Male Monkeys usually strike out on their own sometime after the fifth year. Until that time of maturity arrives, they will grow, learn and have a swinging good time. Each troop will have one alpha male, but it may have older males that live on the edge of troop life. Female monkeys often stay in the same troop that they were born into, but low-status female members sometimes branch off and form a totally new troop. These new troops are usually quite a bit smaller, with less than 10 members. This is a way of building status and importance for very low-status females.

The Juvenal female members of the troop usually begin breeding sometime after the fourth or fifth year. The breeding season begins in late fall, generally in November and lasts till early January. The mother carries her young around 165 days, giving birth sometime around April to June. Younger females have a single birth usually every couple of years, whereas older females often give birth each year. The mothers will continue to nurse their babies for around one year, during which she is also the primary caregiver of the newest member of the family. The Juvenal monkeys are pretty much independent once they reach two years of age.  However, the males often stay with the troop until close to five years. Female Juvenal Formosan Rock Monkeys may stay close to their mothers for their whole lifetime, retaining strong bonds.

taiwan monkeysQuite Content In His Perch In The Trees

The world of the Formosan Rock Monkey is quite protected and we see their numbers growing as they live without threat from poachers, researchers, and those wanting to use them for medical purposes. Even the pet industry had to be curtailed. This has been a major success story for Taiwan and a model for the world. But not all of the Taiwanese are part of their fan club. These monkeys are excellent foragers and often forge in the fields of farmers, carrying off their bounty in those chubby cheek pouches. As we can see, what is a success story for one group, is not for another.

Another problem that had come up with the increase in their numbers,  is that people were feeding them. This often led to the monkeys bothering people to get food, a trait that was not desirable. Thus, in the last few years, people have been asked to not feed the monkeys, but to enjoy their amusing behavior and amazing personality. No other animal can entertain any better, or hold the interest of a crowd any longer, than these amazing Taiwan natives to the Southern Mountains. These monkeys are smart, and when human behavior changed around them, they also made changes, no longer going after everyone to get food. This is just another of the success stories of Taiwan.

taiwan monkeysFormosan Rock Monkey Observing The World Around Him

This older monkey almost appears to be deep in thought. Is he planning his daily routine, or just languishing in the thoughts of his intelligent mind? Whatever the case, you almost want to offer him a penny for his thoughts.

This magnificent creature mainly lives in the Southwestern and Northeastern parts of the mountainous regions of the island. In times past, when the island had fewer inhabitants, he also enjoyed the coastal areas.  Now he spends his days in the mountains sharing his range with other inhabits like Bluetail Senegal and the American Bullfrog. What beautiful chores the American Bullfrogs can share. It must be amazing to share space with such a wonderful singer.

taiwan monkeysLiving The Good Life At Shoushan Nature Park In Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung, Taiwan is a city found in the South of the Island of Taiwan. Though many consider Taipei to be Taiwan’s grandest city, Kaohsiung is a major rival. If you enjoy hiking, geological and ecological sites, cultural history, and a laid back environment, then Kaohsiung should be a part of any Taiwan adventure. One of the most amazing sites is Shoushan, which is a part of Monkey Mountain. This is the first National Nature Park in Taiwan and it is the site of major hiking opportunities on Monkey Mountain, including an exciting visit to a tea station, and of course, there is Monkey Paradise.

Near the entrance to the Zoo are the trail heads to three of the best trails on the mountain. The middle trail is generally considered to be the best for those who may not have time to explore all three. As you climb the mountain you will see several ancient Banyan trees and also begin to get marvelous vistas of Kaohsiung and finally you will arrive at a Monkey station. All along the trail, you will find these ancient Banyan trees hanging onto the limestone cliffs. The rocky cliffs themselves are a source of beauty and enjoyment. Going a little farther and you will begin to see the only native monkey in Taiwan, the Formosan Rock Monkey. It is good to keep all food supplies hidden, and do not feed the monkeys. The monkeys have absolutely no fear of humans that they see hiking the trails, and should be treated with great respect.

taiwan monkeysWater Carrier Climbing To The Top Of Monkey Mountain

The climb up to the top of Monkey Mountain is steep and takes around an hour for a seasoned hiker. Can you imagine the job of bringing water to the tea and monkey stations? Just think, any water that is consumed by the humans or the monkeys needs to be carried up the same trail that you have been hiking. It is a beautiful and steep climb, but well worth the effort.  It really makes you think and appreciate the water that is used at the above stations.

taiwan monkeysShoushan Nature Park In Kaohsiung Home of the Taiwan Monkeys

Shoushan Nature Park in Kaohsiung is a dense Secondary Forest. Even though it is a forest that has been harvested once, signs of major disruption are no longer seen. Since this forest regrowth was not due to natural disasters of any kind, the dead trees lie on the forest floor providing major nutrients and major protection from soil erosion. This is what is the major plus with a secondary forest over a forest devastated by fire, wind, water, etc. This forest is lush, thick, and very green.

Among the many trees that provide for the needs of the Formosan Rock Monkey are the Dendrocnide Meyeniana Tree, also referred to as the Lipa Tree. While this may be a special tree for monkeys, it often causes rashes for people who happen to rub against it. The Chinese have an interesting name for this native tree that is not too friendly to humans. They call it the “dog bitten fruit.” This is the English translation of the not too favorable Chinese name. This tree, loved by monkeys and hated by humans, is native to Taiwan and is mostly found in the secondary forests of the Island of Taiwan. Regardless of how it affects humans, the monkeys often run and play in this tree found in the Shoushan Nature Park.

Another of the major trees of the overstory in Shoushan Nature Park is the Paper Mulberry Tree. This tree is native throughout Asia and also was brought over to the United States. It is considered to be important in Asia and the Islands of the Pacific Ocean for food, medicine, and even fiber. In China, they use it to make paper, and Japan uses the inner bark to make the famous Washi Paper.

In some of the Islands of the Pacific, the Paper Mulberry is used for ceremonial clothing. Many countries make furniture and cooking utensils from its wood. All over the world, wherever it grows, the edible leaves are cooked and the fruits are delicious. The Formosan Rock Money loves the seeds, bark, fruit, and leaves of the Paper Mulberry Tree. What a delicacy they provide for this monkey native to Taiwan.

Another major member of this secondary forest is the Banyan Tree. The Banyan Tree is noted for often starting life in a hole or crack or another tree. The Banyan Tree is commonly known as a Fig Tree and the Taiwanese Formosan Rock Monkeys love it’s nice ripe fruit.

taiwan monkeysShoushan Nature Park On Monkey Mountain

The secondary growth on all of Monkey Mountain is lush and heavily forested. The forest is blessed with a wide range of coniferous and hardwoods, as well as large selections of shrubs. This temperate forest also has areas of native bamboo, with other areas of less thick shrubs. There are also plenty of areas of clearings with native plants forming a ground cover, all this is perfect for a ground-loving species.

taiwan monkeysThe Formosan Rock Monkey Living On Monkey Mountain

Shoushan Nature Park is the “backyard of the city of Kaohsiung” and the beginning of a Southern Taiwan Adventure. Exciting cliffs, spectacular rocks, magnificent caves, and geological wonders, are all part of this unique and fascinating natural park, with it’s coniferous and hardwoods blended in. This is a monkey paradise! If you have a love of nature, hiking, and enjoy discovering unique places in nature, then this is the perfect adventure for you. Come join the fun on Monkey Mountain.

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taiwan monkeys

Filed Under: Asia, East Coast Taiwan, Taiwan, travel channel, travel the world, Travel Tips Tagged With: Banyan Tree, China, Dendrocnide Meyeniana, Formosan Rock Macaques, Formosan Rock Monkey, Kaohsiung, Lipa Tree, Monkey Mountain, Paper Mulberry, Shoushan Nature Park, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan, taiwan monkeys, Washi Paper

Kenting National Park in Southern Taiwan

November 9, 2015 by Exploretraveler.com Leave a Comment

 Kenting National Park

Kenting National Park

Kenting National Park, high in the mountains, is at the most Southern tip of Taiwan.  Located on Hengchun Peninsula, Kenting National Park has very unique and changeable weather.  These strange and complicated weather patterns cause it to have abundant and rare plants and resources. Kenting National Park is an adventure in all things natural. Take time to hike the many trails. It is overflowing with resources.  Kenting National Park has a rich thick forest with over 1,200 varieties of both ornamental and endangered plants. There is a high coral limestone throughout the Ken Ting National Forest Recreation Area. The limestone is unique and beautiful! Kenting National Park is one part of the overall Ken Ting National Forest Recreation Area. What a magnificent area! The rare and endangered ornamental plants are amazing.

Entering through the memorial archway that you will find in Ken Ting National Forest Recreation Area, there is a fabulous forest trail. On this forest trail, you will see many old trees, including a 300-year-old giant Chinese Pistache tree.  There are many beautiful old growth trees. The Chinese Pistache Tree is magnificent. Though it is not the oldest tree you will see, it is rare and unique. What a beautiful trail! There are many sites within the park that are worth exploring. The aquatic plants in one area are extremely beautiful. The fragrance of blooms fills the air! Color is everywhere in Kenting National Park.

There is a very impressive stalagmites cave with-in the Kenting National Park itself. Take time to explore all the many leaves and roots in the area of the cave. What a magnificent cave. The Fairy cave is awesome in its own right. True to its name, it is like magic in the cave. The Silver Dragon Cave will keep you busy exploring all the different shapes and mysteries of Southern Taiwan’s caves. There are large and small dragon shapes in the cave. Discover the mysteries waiting for you in each of these very unique caves.

You will find amazing gorges. There are steep beautiful cliffs. The valleys are breathtaking. There is one right after the other. You will be in awe of all the beautiful valleys and gorges. The magnificent cliffs that line the edges of the coast are colorful and one of a kind.  This park is one of the greatest treasures of Southern Taiwan. If you are coming to the far South of Taiwan, make sure to leave time for a Kenting National Park Adventure.

The year-round tropical weather in Taiwan makes anytime the perfect time to visit this island nation. The climate is perfect. You will find some of the greatest resources. There are many tourist attractions in the South of Taiwan. Each part of the island has its own special attractions. They are spectacular! Though the South may have a little more than it’s share.  It is tourist heaven in Taiwan. Enjoy the perfect weather. Meet new friends. You will meet the friendliest people. You will discover a unique island. Nowhere is the wrong place to be in this island nation.

Today is the perfect day to book that Southern Taiwan Adventure. Discover Kenting National Park. It is one of the treasures of Taiwan.

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Filed Under: Asia, Taiwan, Travel Tips, World Travel Tagged With: Chinese Pistache Tree, Fairy cave, Hengchun Peninsula, Ken Ting National Forest Recreation Area, Kenting National Park, Silver Dragon Cave, Southern Taiwan, Stalagmites cave, Taiwan

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