Datun elementary schoolers strive to save Taiwan raptors

2016/01/06

An initiative to save Taiwan’s raptors started by the pupils of Taipei City-based Datun Elementary School got off the ground Jan. 4 with substantive support from Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Chairman Terry Gou.

In response to a plea by the schoolchildren, the tech magnate acquired the full-year broadcasting rights to local documentary “Fly, Kite Fly” on the indigenous birds and plans to screen it in schools nationwide. It is expected this will help raise awareness of the ecological plight faced by the so-called black kites.

The intergenerational tie-up came as a result of a letter by Datun second-grader Chen Kuan-yu, who wrote to Gou expressing concern for the bird’s survival.

“I saw the movie and realized black kites are at the risk of extinction,” Chen wrote. “This is caused by the use of carbofuran pesticides in farming, which poison sparrows and in turn poison the raptors up the food chain.”

Directed by nature photographer Liang Chieh-te, “Fly, Kite Fly” tells the story of birdwatcher Shen Chen-chung and the 20 years he dedicated to following and recording the activities of the medium-size raptors. Their number has dwindled to 300 around the island due to human impact on the environment.

Chen and his classmates were moved to tears at a screening of the documentary by the Raptor Research Group of Taiwan last October. They feared the wildlife crisis is known by too few people, and decided to take action to help spread the message.

“I think the film is very important, and more people should see it,” he wrote. “Please help us promote the film.”

Gou said he was deeply moved by the letter, and praised the children for taking the initiative to seek his assistance. “I am grateful they brought this issue to my attention, and I look forward to joining hands with our future leaders to make Taiwan a better place.”

In addition to a round-Taiwan tour of campus screenings, the documentary is scheduled to headline a free children’s film festival at Gou’s Syntrend Creative Park in Taipei City later this year.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240931&ctNode=2194&mp=9)