The Taroko National Park Headquarters (Taroko N. P. HQ) unveiled its two-year film production, Ark Taroko, during a premiere held at the Taroko Visitor Center on November 28, marking the 38th anniversary of the park’s establishment. Deputy Executive Director of the Eastern Taiwan Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan, Mr. Ying-Yi Kuo, attended the event. Deputy Director of Taroko N. P. HQ, Mr. Chung-Shan Lin, emphasized that the park's rugged landscapes-comprising high mountains, deep valleys, and steep cliffs-serve as sanctuaries for numerous rare species. Taroko functions as an "ark" that shelters and sustains diverse forms of life. Despite enduring significant earthquakes and typhoons this year, Mr. Lin expressed confidence in the resilience of Taroko’s ecosystems under collective stewardship.
Mr. Lin highlighted a linguistic coincidence: rearranging the letters of “Taroko” creates “Ark Too,” symbolizing the park as a sanctuary for both species and humanity. The metaphor of an ark conveys the idea of safeguarding life, underscoring that all plants, animals, and humans within Taroko are part of this ark. The film features five chapters: Ark of Heaven, Legacy Guardianship, In the Name of Taroko, Hope Amid Adversity, and Echoes of the Gorge. These segments showcase Taroko’s diverse landscapes—from coastal cliffs and gorges to high mountain habitats—while highlighting glacial relics, limestone-specific flora, and more.
Some species have undergone unique evolutionary processes due to geographical isolation, becoming endemic to Taroko. Many have been named after the park or nearby geographical features, such as:
Taroko Oak (Quercus tarokoensis),
Taroko Stonecrop (Sedum tarokoense H.W.Lin),
Taroko Barberry (Berberis tarokoensis),
Qingshui Mountain Pink (Dianthus Qingshui Mountain),
Nanhu Willowherb (Epilobium nankotaizanense),
Nanhu Salamander (Hynobius glacialis), and
Qilai Orchid (Orchis kiraishiensis). Research indicates that Taroko hosts 48 endemic or primarily distributed species, along with 70 plant species named after local areas and mountains.
The final stages of filming coincided with the April 3 earthquake, enabling the team led by director Chen-Tang Lee to document the pre- and post-quake conditions of Taroko Gorge. These visual comparisons reveal changes in the canyon’s landscapes. Mr. Lin pointed out that while earthquakes can damage scenery and infrastructure, they are also fundamental natural forces shaping Taroko’s iconic gorges and high mountains. Damaged facilities will gradually be restored, and the affected ecosystems will continue to be monitored and protected, demonstrating the resilience of life as it adapts to post-earthquake environments.
The Ark Taroko film, approximately 23 minutes long, is available in both Chinese and English versions. Its five chapters are also presented as standalone short films. Following its premiere on November 28, the film will be screened daily in the briefing room at the Taroko Visitor Center and uploaded to the park's official YouTube channel, inviting everyone to enjoy this compelling production.