外來陸龜在臺的知識建構、市場邏輯與價值矛盾

Abstract

有別於沒有接觸就沒有傷害的動物保護觀點，本研究以外來的保育類動物陸龜作為研究主題，嘗試從飼養者社群的角度出發，討論陸龜來臺的技術經濟史。本研究透過深度訪談20位陸龜飼養者，以及2位有陸龜照顧實作相關經驗的公部門工作人員，加上利用檢索陸龜相關報章、雜誌資料以及網路論壇、網站文章等方法蒐集資料。從技術知識、市場經濟以及社會價值的面向切入，討論外來的保育類動物在臺灣發展的社會過程。 本研究發現：一、飼養者在缺乏國內專家的知識支援之下，陸龜成為飼養者家中的「實驗寵物」。實驗型飼養者在飼養過程，不斷拆解國外知識並與在地實驗性的飼養經驗相互驗證，發展出養活與養賺陸龜兩種不同的知識。而這兩種知識同時也表現社群不同階段的飼養目的。二、隨著知識技術的發展，市場上出現在臺灣出生的「臺產陸龜」。「臺產陸龜」雖然是國內市場的新商品，但也是制度上是無法可管的灰色商品。於是，市場內的行動者利用控制思維與挪用既有法令，提升繁殖正當性，以解決臺產陸龜模糊的法律地位，使臺產陸龜成為市場上熱門的商品。三、本研究反思保育價值與市場間的矛盾，保育價值既神聖化但也市場化陸龜。這樣的矛盾突顯出僅用制度性的規範難以達到保育的目的，反而可能使得生命完全商品化。

This study focuses on the introduction of captive breeding tortoises in Taiwan, which are non-native and endangered species. The trade in most tortoises is regulated by international agreements and laws for conservation purposes. This thesis reveals the technical and economic history of the local community of breeders and keepers. I used in-depth interview with stakeholders (keepers, breeders, and civil servants) and content analysis to investigate the development of technical knowledge, market expansion, and social value debates on imported and captive breeding tortoises in Taiwan. I found that in the early stage, owing to the lack of expertise knowledge in Taiwan, breeders and keepers would treat their tortoises as “experimental pets” in order to accumulate the knowledge of keeping them alive and healthy. In the process of accumulating knowledge, people would develop for their own experiences and verify others’ experiences from other countries as well. Eventually, these local breeders and keepers developed two very different kinds of knowledge for dissimilar purposes – keeping these animals alive, and captive breeding them for investment. Besides, the development of knowledge resulted in captive breeding tortoises entering the market in Taiwan. Captive breeding tortoises became a new commodity, but current regulations have been unable to oversee the exchange of these local-bred commodities in Taiwan. Thus, local breeders just modified or adapted existing regulations to enhance the captive breeding tortoises’ legitimacy. These local-bred animals soon became more popular than imported ones on the market. I finally reflect on the contradictions between conservation values and the expansion of live animal markets. Although breeders and keepers claim the importance of the conservation value, their practices and current ambiguous regulations actually commercialize all captive breeding tortoises.