Taichung Dongshi Beetle Ecological Park Opens, 100 Beetles Move In

Central News Agency, Taichung, May 27. The Rhinoceros Beetle Ecological Park in Dongshi District, Taichung City, was recently completed and opened. The Taichung Hakka Affairs Committee recruited 100 rhinoceros beetles to move into the park, hoping to create a unique ecological park that combines environmental education with the preservation of the mother tongue. The committee released a press release today, with Chairman Chiang Chun-lung stating that they have arranged for 100 adult rhinoceros beetles to settle in the park. Accompanied by Hakka language signs at the entrance and introductions to the beetle's life cycle inside, the park allows the public to learn about these beetles while also learning about Hakka language and culture. Chiang pointed out that rhinoceros beetles have many local names in Hakka, such as 'pig dung beetle,' 'chicken oil beetle,' 'single-horn beetle,' and 'deer-horn turtle.' The name 'chicken oil beetle' comes from the adult's preference for the sap of the Chinese ash tree (known in Hakka as 'white chicken oil'). The committee stated that under the guidance of professional consultants from the Dongshi Forest Recreation Area, the beetles will be moved into the restoration area in batches, hoping to create an outdoor classroom where citizens can observe the complete life cycle of the beetles.