Sunday, January 5, 2014
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The bigger danger while detecting, hiking or biking near the river beds, streams or mountains are the wild animals but also the landslide/mudslide
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The main factor is that we always use our headphones therefore we are very quiet and silent. Wild animals never attack humans unless they are old, injured or SURPRISED. And by being silent, we might surprise them and cause the attacks.
The Formosan Black Bear
Formosan black bears are very solitary creatures and are an endangered species. They are omnivores and it is very rare to be able to see one in the wild. These majestic animals have been hunted for years by aboriginal hunters and sold in the game stores. Nowadays, these same hunters are doing their best to save them.
Black bears do eat meat and if you encounter one the best option is to walk back in a side way. Do not ever give your back to these animals. It is a sign of weakness in their world and they will come for you. Making noise while metal detecting can help you scare them because they do not want to see humans so while enjoying your hobby do not forget to be prudent.
If a black bear decide to charge, it is important to know that he is not coming for a drink. He is coming to eat you and the only thing to do is to fight back. Do not try to climb a tree, to run or to play dead. They are in better shape than us, for SURE.
But the chances to meet one are very low… stay prudent.
Snakes
The second kinds of species which are dangerous are SNAKES… particularly the venomous snakes. There are around 50 different species of snakes in Taiwan and among them around ten which are venomous and can be fatal to human if you get bitten.
Among the dangerous ones, some are terrestrial and other marine life. Taiwan is one of the few countries to produce its own anti venom doses. Researches show that venomous snakes of Taiwan enjoy their proximity to humans. Rice fields, for example, filled with fish and amphibians that they contain in large quantity are excellent hunting grounds for some species as the striped bungare and Taiwan cobra, while the habu is more common on farmland and low areas inhabited. Statistics collected suggests that areas where the population density is close to 3000 inhabitants per square kilometer are ideal for many species of reptiles. Many are found in Yilan and all mountainous areas.
If you encounter one of these super venomous species be super careful, do not try to handle one, avoid it and carry on your way and always try to see where the snake is and if by misfortune you are bitten, the most important things to do are :
- - make sure the snake left the area
- - assume that all snakes bite are venomous and have a full description of the animal, location and size and the TIME it had happen (these will help doctor about the amount of antivenin to inject)
- - wrap the part with a rope tightly (not too tight) ( the purpose is to slow the spread of the venom into your body)
- - keep the bitten area ALWAYS LOWER than the heart
- - keep calm … keep really calm, do not panic
- - call 119 (ambulance) or try to get to a hospital ASAP
- - if possible wash your wound with soap and water until your reach the hospital
- - DO NOT try to suck the venom out
- - DO NOT put the wound above the heart
- - DO NOT drink alcohol
- - DO NOT put ice bags over the wound
The 6 Fantastically dangerous and common snakes of Taiwan
- Habu of Taiwan: very dangerous and super aggressive. This snake is very common but all clinics even the smallest one in the smallest village have anti venom in stock.
- the Hundred Pacer snake is quiet rare nowadays but can be found in areas in central and southern Taiwan at altitudes between 500 and 1500 m.
- Taiwan Cobra, very common on the island.
– Taiwan Banded Krait is the most venomous terrestrial snake in the world (except Australia snakes). Anyway, this animal is very scared of human and prefers to flee than confronting a human.
-Bamboo viper or Chinese green tree viper is a nocturnal snake who strikes from the trees. Not very venomous and bites are very common and painful.
-Russel’s pit viper quiet rare but strike very fast and found in forest and grassland.
Others animals
For a summary of other species, I am thinking of stray dogs (not all of them) and only the territorial one who can harm but normally they are more afraid of us than we are of them.
The other species is us Humans (YES we are the worst of all, the most destructive), but these accidents almost never happen. Be safe.
Landslide and mudslide
Landslide and mudslide http://coojing.net/category/metal-detecting-discoveries-and-prospecting/dangers-while-having-outdoors-activities/are very common in mountainous area ( central range and east coast) because of the fact that Taiwan is in a seismically active zone. Many of these earthquakes are not even felt in the cities but in the mountains, it often causes landslide. Huge boulders are known to fall from these mountains, so while enjoying any kind of outdoor activity, be very careful at all time.
Add to this, typhoons, heavy rains, heavy winds, floods and you have the perfect recipe for disasters. So again, the most important thing when you are in the mountains is to be really PRUDENT.
BE SAFE!
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