Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) People's attitude toward animals has changed over time, especially in the last 10 years, but Taiwan still faces barriers that impede the practice of animal protection, scholars said in an international forum Monday.
"Animal protection is a policy that cannot be delayed," said Chen Shei-saint, chairman of the Animal Protection Association (APA) of the Republic of China at the opening ceremony of the 2006 International Companion Animal Welfare Forum.
The two-day forum, co-organized by the APA, Life Conservationist Association and the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Taiwan University, is taking place in Taipei with scholars from 11 countries meeting in a "dialogue between Taiwan and the World."
David Fraser, a Canadian professor at the University of British Columbia who also works for the Office International des Epizooties (OIE, World Organization for Animal Health), offered a global perspective on animal welfare in a keynote speech.
It is amazing how quickly people's opinion could change in 30 years toward animals, Fraser noted, adding that the animal protection movement is looking for a more global reach in the 21st century.
However, there are new challenges ahead, including the rising production of meat -- especially in developing countries; the human impact on wildlife species, and increasing cases of domestic animals living in human communities, Fraser said.
Briefing the audience on the animal protection movement in Taiwan, Shih Chao-hwei, a Buddhist nun, followed up Fraser's viewpoints with her concerns.
Taiwan's animal protection movement has a long way to go, said Shih Chao-hwei, a professor at Hsuan Chuang University.
"The [animal protection] law in Taiwan has been in place. All we need now is the improvement of law enforcement. Too many times we have allowed unlimited generalizations of cultural diversity, tourism and sacred sacrifice to impede the practice [of animal protection] in Taiwan," she said.
Twelve theses will be presented at the forum.