| Yuanjhong Wetlands Park Yuanjhong Wetlands Park is one of Kaohsiung's premier ecological parks. Located in Nanzih's coastal district between Dianbao Stream and Houjin Creek, it covers two hectares of land and has a large number of unique mangroves. The majority of mangroves are Avicennia marina, but there are also several other varieties in the area. Another wonderful feature of Yuanjhong Wetland is the abundance of species that come in with the tides. Kaohsiung is home to 18 wetlands with only Jiading, Yongan, Yanshuei and Yuanjhong Wetlands maintaining robust intertidal ecological systems. Ten of the twelve species of fiddler crabs be found in Taiwan, can be found in Yuanjhong Wetlands. Yuanjhong wetlands originally belonged to the navy; for many years, it was leased to fish farmers. The Navy then reclaimed 300 hectares in order to develop a second generation base. In 2005, the navy donated 50 hectares to Kaohsiung City Government, of which they used 29.4 hectares to develop the wetlands. This was then divided into the Eastern and Western Zones with a water treatment plant in the middle. The water treatment integrates plants into the water purification process, thus diffusing the impact of the processed water, when releasing it back into the ecology.  | | The rich variety of water species and fish farms in Yuanjhong Wetlands Park provides food for a variety of birds. Although only the fish farms of the Eastern Zone are still in existence, the fresh water Dianbao Stream and salt water from the Taiwan Strait wash over the intertidal mud flats and create a safe habitat for fiddler crabs and mudskippers. Although mangroves provide shelter for a variety of creatures, the Mangrove Crabs have unfortunately been in decline due to its culinary popularity and harvesting by poachers. However, over the past couple of years, populations of fiddler crabs have been found to be on the rise. There are also a large number of brown land crabs, which can be distinguished by the round holes found all over the park, in which they make their homes. Volunteers place fallen leaves and twigs on the paths in order to protect worms and insects on the ground. All creatures play an important part in the food chain and therefore any accidental deaths could have an impact on the etire ecological system.  | | The 20 hectares of the Eastern Zone is also habitat to a variety of water birds. This year, a record number of seven rare Pheasant-tailed Jacanas were seen in the park. Mr. Liao Wen-cyuan, a wetlands volunteer, hopes these extremely rare birds will continue to make a comeback, and the park will continue to be a regular migratory stop. Trails are maintained by volunteers and laid behind tidal lines in order to protect the integrity of the shorelines and wildlife habitats. This encourages birds and other creatures to settle in the wetlands. The park is open to the public; however, bookings and guided tours must be arranged through Wetlands Taiwan and made at least seven days in advance. Wetlands Taiwan 07-5822371 援中港 濕地公園 【文/侯雅婷；攝影/鮑忠暉】 眼前的招潮蟹大軍不時揮舞著大手臂到處蹓躂，在洞穴中忙進忙出 ，這裡是楠梓區的援中港濕地公園，介於典寶溪和後勁溪之間，這座濕地公園特色是有為數頗多的紅樹林，其中數量最多的單一品種是海茄苳(紅樹林)，面積廣達2公頃；援中港濕地是全市18處濕地中，除了茄萣濕地、永安鹽田濕地和鹽水港濕地之外，另一處有潮間帶生物的濕地，更令人驚喜的是，全台潮間帶發現12種招潮蟹中，這裡就有10種。 援中港濕地原本為養殖漁塭，由養殖漁戶向海軍承租，但因軍方規劃於此闢建二代艦軍港的開發計劃，因而收回土地250公頃，並捐地50公頃予高雄市政府。2005年，高雄市政府將其中29.4公頃規劃為援中港濕地，並分為東、西兩區，中間隔著污水處理廠，期能藉由濕地的水生植物發揮吸附和減碳作用，再度淨化來自污水處理廠的水，力求將對環境的影響降至最低。 援中港濕地之所以能孕育多樣性的棲地環境，主要是原本尚存於東區的養殖魚塭堤供鳥類充足的食物來源，而在西區，儘管魚塭已消失殆盡，但隨著當地魚塭水道而生長出茂盛的紅樹林，提供鳥類棲息與繁衍之所，更因有來自典寶溪的淡水以及台灣海峽的海水，在漲退潮時會流入西區，因而在紅樹林岸邊形成獨特的潮間帶淺泥灘，成為招潮蟹和彈塗魚等河口生物理想的棲息地，此地招潮蟹數量更是年年增加。 援中港濕地東區占地約20公頃，園區鳥類豐富，最特別的是今年出現7隻水雉的蹤跡，是歷年來最多的一年。園區的志工廖文泉表示，希望園區能夠成為水雉的故鄉，吸引更多水雉前來定居；在秋天這個季節，園區也有秋蟹的蹤跡 ，只是秋蟹奇貨可居，引起了盜捕人覬覦，數量銳減，此外，園區也有數量可觀的兇狠圓軸蟹，隨處可見圓軸蟹築起洞穴。志工們將人類行走的路徑鋪上自然掉落的乾樹枝，避免地上的昆蟲被踐踏，因為這些昆蟲很可能也是其他類昆蟲或生物的食物來源，某種程度上保持食物鏈的平衡，同時將路徑往後退一段 ，讓人類行走路徑離招潮蟹出沒岸邊更遠一些，希望藉由這些措施，讓招潮蟹的數量增加，同時吸引更多鳥類或生物前來定居。 想到援中港濕地參觀的民眾，可於7 天前向台灣濕地保護聯盟預約，濕地聯盟鼓勵參觀民眾透過預約講解，認識豐富的濕地生態。 台灣濕地聯盟 07-5822371 | 
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