Shows / Formosa Fauna
Formosa Fauna
Spend 20 minutes feeding your mind with knowledge about the animal kingdom so you can become smarter than all of your friends! Formosa Fauna aims to entertainingly educate listeners about animals both in Taiwan and abroad while also inspiring them to take action and get involved. Formosa Fauna hopes to connect the world through humanity’s innate curiosity for the unknown and love for animals. Join Tristan Hilderbrand for Formosa Fauna on Fridays! If you have a story or photo you want featured…
Episodes
Formosa FaunaThe never-ending fight against wild boar snares in Taiwan | Ep63
The wild boar snare is a hunting device that indiscriminately traps, mangles, and often kills unsuspecting victims. Such victims include stray cats and dogs…
Formosa FaunaDiners unknowingly consume shark marketed as "fish and chips" | Ep62
Many people have eaten sharks without even realizing it. “Rock salmon," with an unsuspecting name for a kind of shark, has been a staple in British…
Formosa FaunaMonkey caught red-handed after 3-month chase | Ep61
One Formosan macaque made the headlines this week for stealing across Beitou. Finally, after a three-month chase and countless robberies, he was apprehended…
Formosa FaunaBeer makes dogs' coats shinier? Science says 'no' | Ep60
The idea that beer would make a dog's coat shinier likely comes from old folk practices where ingredients such as brewer's yeast or malt were thought to…
Formosa FaunaThese can chew through bullet proof vests? | Ep59
Resembling a tiny volcano, meet the limpet. Limpet teeth, according to the BBC, consist of the strongest biological material ever tested. Yes, that makes them…
Formosa FaunaInternational Cat Day: Taiwan's cats | Ep58
This August 8 is International Cat Day. Can you tell which feline species is featured in the photo? Do you know how many native cat species there are in…
Formosa FaunaMy boss is the Taiwanese black bears | Ep57
While she may work in an office largely handling paperwork and replying to emails, today's guest Niya says her experience is much different because she isn't…
Formosa FaunaUsing drones and AI to catch stray dogs | Ep56
Crabs that have survived millions of years? Natural treasure salmon? Drones and AI used to capture and neuter stray dogs? All happening right here in Taiwan!…
Formosa FaunaVolunteered as a photographer, was handed a microchipper | Ep55
Was asked to microchip animals on her first day of volunteer work? Then signed up to be a dog midwife? We all start somewhere! Those who volunteer to help…
Formosa FaunaThe animal lovers who have to witness the worst of animal cruelty | Ep54
They say the worst job one can get for their mental health is a social media content moderator, having to review graphic and often violent reported posts one…
Formosa FaunaImporting pets into Taiwan: "Fail and they will destroy them" | Ep53
"Fail and they will destroy your pet." Stakes are high as the year-long preparation process comes to a close and you head to Taiwan with your pet in tow. If…
Formosa FaunaThe organization that responds to all animal cruelty reports | Ep52
The Asia for Animals (AfA) Conference will happen right here in Taiwan from August 25-29, 2025. It is the largest gathering of animal protection organizations…
Formosa FaunaWhy dogs are afraid of vacuum cleaners | Ep51
Which marine animal or fish has the biggest brain-to-body ratio? Manta rays, bettas, or great white sharks? Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly…
Formosa FaunaWhat does contagious yawning mean in people and other primates? | Ep48
Do you yawn when someone else yawns? There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that contagious yawning, the tendency to yawn when you see or hear someone…
Formosa FaunaOtter conference in Kinmen | Ep47
One of the world's most prominent primatologists will be visiting Taiwan soon, and a two-day conference all about otters will take place in Kinmen, Taiwan…
Formosa FaunaTaiwanese dogs coveted in USA | Ep46
All about Formosan mountain dogs! Formosan mountain dogs were brought back from human-induced near extinction. In this episode Tristan talks to Jenna Dodson…
Formosa FaunaWhat makes this fish sarcastic? Not its sense of humor | Ep45
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaNative bear killed, albino dolphin spotted | Ep44
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaExtinct dire wolves resurrected? | Ep43
After a 12,500+ year absence, has the dire wolf species returned? Experts weigh in on Colossal Biosciences' de-extinction success. Formosa Fauna is back this…
Formosa FaunaDog finds toddler, walks side-by-side for miles | Ep42
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaTaiwan's weasel weasels their way toward new prey | Ep41
Are you a fan of Formosan black bears or yellow-throated martens? Several newsworthy animal-related events have been happening in Taiwan, which we will talk…
Formosa FaunaHow to foster and NOT get attached | Ep40
Back in 2022 shelters across the United States had noticed something significant: Requests to foster had gone up 90%. Who wouldn't want to spend time with cute…
Formosa FaunaLivestream "pearl party" scams | Ep39
You open up social media on your phone, and are presented with a livestream where someone is shucking oysters, some with pearls hidden inside. The oysters are…
Formosa FaunaThis musical frog species is only found in Taiwan | Ep38
While first observed in the 1980s, this new frog species was not recognized as being its own distinct, endemic Taiwanese species until 2025. When compared to…
Formosa FaunaFreeway Bureau responsible for butterflies in Taiwan? | Ep37
Eating a spiny oyster at the right time of year can make you feel like you’re flying... Fact or fiction? Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly…
Formosa FaunaHow to tell if your dog has OCD | Ep36
Could your dog have OCD? That and much more in today's episode. Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and…
Formosa Fauna"Dog bear" or Formosan black bear? | Ep35
The Formosan black bear goes by many names, the more well-known including "Taiwan black bear," "white-throated bear," and even "dog bear." The subspecies…
Formosa FaunaFormosan black bears have never attacked humans | Ep34
Two Formosan black bears were sighted along a busy highway in Hualien this week, the first recorded instance of them appearing in high-traffic areas. Formosan…
Formosa FaunaName a cat after your ex, then neuter them | Ep33
For the low price of US$15, rescues and shelters in the U.S. will let you name a cat after your ex, then have them spayed or neutered as part of their TNR…
Formosa FaunaLovebirds and bird flu | Ep32
Infected through commercial raw pet food, cats in the U.S. die of the bird flu, which has a 67% fatality rate in felines. In this episode we will learn how to…
Formosa FaunaWelcome to the year of the snake | Ep31
Antarctica is the only continent without snakes? This lunar new year's zodiac animal is the snake. Explore snakes as we welcome in the new year in Taiwan. If…
Formosa FaunaPeople were using abalone shells 100,000 years ago | Ep30
Which is a true statement: A) Dogs eat feces in an effort to maintain a clean environment, or B) Dogs eat feces because it smells like food? The answer may not…
Formosa FaunaLizards back on the chopping block as more cities reinstate bounty | Ep29
Which is not a real animal: blue-footed booby or loveland frog? Listen to this episode to find out. Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate…
Formosa FaunaTaiwan to ban 900+ species, including raccoons | Ep28
Which animal has been observed as the more aggressive one: lemon sharks or mute swans? The answer is probably not what you think. Formosa Fauna is back this…
Formosa FaunaThe cute, puffy, and deadlier than cyanide pufferfish | Ep27
There's a religion that turns people into ”zombies" with pufferfish poison? Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in…
Formosa FaunaHow many animals have eyelashes? | Ep26
Eyelashes do more than you may think. Since when is there no such thing as "alpha" wolves or dogs? Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate…
Formosa FaunaThese fish are successful salon owners | Ep25
Fish that open their own cleaning salons and massage parlors? Fact, not fiction! Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals…
Formosa FaunaWhy penguins' feet don't freeze | Ep24
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaPlaying God: What it means to be an aquarist | Ep23
Formosa Fauna is back this week with Rti's own beloved host and reporter Michelle to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend…
Formosa FaunaRat ownership: An underrated cuddly companion | Ep22
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaDog show champion | Ep21
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa Fauna20 fun facts about Taiwanese native species | Ep20
Formosa Fauna is back this week for its 20th episode to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening…
Formosa FaunaToasters 100x deadlier than bears | Ep19
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaSea turtles return to the ocean in Penghu | Ep18
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaYes, you're a primate, too. | Ep17
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaAnimal performances in the name of education? | Ep16
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaHungry raccoons send woman fleeing from her home | Ep15
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes listening to this episode and…
Formosa FaunaWanted dead or alive: Taiwan's lizard bounty | Ep14
Two reptile species were so much of a perceived environmental threat in Taiwan back around 2016 that Chiayi county started offering bounties for them, dead or…
Formosa FaunaIt's easy to spot wild reptiles in Taiwan | Ep13
How reptile-dense is Taiwan? In Taiwan there are about 55 species of snakes, 31 species of lizards, 5 species of terrestial turtles, and 4 species of marine…
Formosa FaunaDe-extinction? Species that may make a return from the dead | Ep12
Formosa Fauna is back this week to entertainingly educate you about animals both in Taiwan and abroad! Spend the next 20 minutes feeding your noggin with fun…
Formosa FaunaPresident Lai's amputee dog and "less-adoptable" pets | Ep11
On today's menu for your brain to feast on: - What are "less adoptable pets?" (02:00) - President Lai Ching-te adopting a disabled dog (08:07) - UK national…
Formosa FaunaBirds with 8-foot wing spans | Ep10
The Frigatebirds are birds with a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet, that’s 213 to 244 centimeters, a width that’s longer than most of us are tall. The large black…
Formosa FaunaFlightless bird or breeding mishap? | Ep9
What animals come to mind when you hear "flightless birds?" If chickens are one of them, you may be wrong. Bird-window collision researcher Ginny Hsieh started…
Formosa FaunaBird-window collisions in Taiwan: A serious issue often overlooked | Ep8
In the United States bird-window collisions can decimate up to 9% of the bird population annually. Taiwan is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of…
Formosa FaunaGoats most effective way to clear farmland | Ep7
Did you know that one of the most cost-effective ways to clear farmland is to employ a flock of goats? Listen to this episode of Formosa Fauna so you can learn…
Formosa FaunaTaiwanese crabs that live on land! | Ep6
Terrestrial crabs are lineages of crabs that have evolved to live predominantly on land. Taiwan is home to six species of terrestrial crabs! We finally have…
Formosa FaunaInternational Cat Day is upon us! TNR no longer cutting it | Ep5
There are an estimated 600 million cats worldwide, 220 million of which are house cats, and 480 million of which are stray or feral! As International Cat Day…
Formosa FaunaOrigins of the dragon: What animals inspired its creation? | Ep4
Dragons are very animal-like, and were perhaps inspired by a couple of real-life animals. Can you guess which ones? In this episode Tristan talks dragons…
Formosa FaunaAre corals plants, animals, or rocks? | Ep3
Coral reefs harbor many marine creatures. All sorts of marine life inhabit, breed, feed, and hide from enemies in coral reefs. Taiwan's coral reef communities…
Formosa FaunaHumans are only the second deadliest animals in the world... What could be the first? | Ep2
Rat Catcher's Day is upon us! The July 22 holiday stems from German folklore. While some cities deem rats "public enemy number one," they do make great pets…