Team members have risked their lives during fierce typhoon weather in their attempts to save the fish. Lin-yan Liao, an important member of the team, is especially committed to the cause.

Liao has loved animals since young. It was pure coincidence that he landed upon a job of restoring the Formosan landlocked salmon. Although he wanted to be a veterinarian, he was accepted into the department of aquaculture instead. ¡§It¡¦s quite the same thing really,¡¨ Liao said. ¡§Fish get sick too, and instead of helping individual animals, I get to help a whole pond of the creatures.¡¨ After graduation, he applied successfully for the job at the Shei-pa National Park. A few days after he reported to work, he encountered the September 21 earthquake and was caught in a whirlwind of work.

The condition of the restoration ponds then was appalling as well. Thanks to the many typhoons and floods, the ponds looked like abandoned pits. The inadequate and makeshift equipment was no comfort either. ¡§We really had a hard time back then,¡¨ Liao recalled. ¡§The restoration ponds were located far up in the mountains, and acquiring simple maintanence parts was a task.¡¨

In 2004, exceptionally strong typhoons struck Taiwan again. The team was right on site looking at the rising water levels in the ponds, and trying to salvage whatever they could. More than 5000 fish were carried away by the floods. Both the water and power supplies were cut off. The survival of the remaining fish faced the threat of leaks and a rising water temperature. The team had to bring in an emergency water supply truck, and also borrowed ice blocks from local hotels. Everything seemed to have come back to square one. But Liao was optimistic. ¡§It was a pity, but we can always start all over again.¡¨

The restoration team believed that the precious Formosan landlocked salmon needed a safer environment. They decided to establish the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Ecology Center. The grants were hard to come by, but after many months of effort they were able to set up the center last yaer. The comprehensive facilities at the center will at least ensure that the salmon at the restoration ponds need not worry about power and water supply.

Feeding the fish was an unforgettable experience as well. Why do the fish need to be trained to feed on fish feed? The diet of the fish has always been a challenge to the team. The salmon tends to favor life organisms, but water fleas are difficult to acquire in the mountains, and shrimp is not an appropriate choice. Liao tried to get them to eat fish feed instead. He made the feed float about on the water looking like life prey, inducing the fish to feed on them. ¡§And once the more daring ones take their bites, the timid ones follow suit.¡¨ Liao said.

The team¡¦s efforts have paid off. The Formosan landlocked salmon¡¦s restoration project is now showing a lot of improvement.Because of his work, Liao had to spent a lot of time away from his home in Keelung. But although it is hard work, the sight of a freed salmon swimming with ease in the river more than compensates his sacrifices.

¡§When the Formosan landlocked salmon becomes extinct, perhaps human beings will eventually do so as well.¡¨ Liao reminds everyone that we should do our bit by protecting our environment. ¡§Fish cannot survive in polluted waters, but neither can we!¡¨ He hopes that everyone will be part of the effort trying to protect our earth.