Overview:
Taiwan’s National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) "StrayLOHAS" USR Project team returned to Palau in October 2026 for a three-day veterinary outreach mission at the Koror State Animal Shelter. The initiative builds on strong bilateral cooperation, providing vital clinical services, spay-and-neuter procedures, and local capacity building to address stray animal management and improve animal welfare.
Date: October 18, 2026
Taiwan and Palau enjoy longstanding diplomatic ties and a close partnership, with continued cooperation in healthcare, education, and human resource development. Following a well-received veterinary outreach mission in 2025, the “StrayLOHAS” University Social Responsibility (USR) Project of National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) was once again invited to Palau in October 2026. Through veterinary services and training for local volunteers, the initiative further strengthens people-to-people exchanges and demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to contributing its professional expertise to international cooperation.
Ambassador Andy Kang-I Chen of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Palau attended the team’s training session and thanked Koror State for hosting the mission. He noted that this mission is more than a professional exchange. Stray dogs are a real challenge for Palau’s tourism, as a number of visitors have been bitten, and addressing the issue benefits residents, visitors, and the animals themselves. By helping Palau tackle this challenge and improve animal welfare, the cooperation reflects the partnership between Taiwan and Palau. The Embassy also welcomes further opportunities for young Taiwanese professionals to contribute their expertise, respond to the needs of partner communities, and showcase Taiwan’s values and capabilities on the international stage.
USR StrayLOHAS Project integrates veterinary education with community engagement, cultivating veterinary professionals with practical clinical skills while addressing stray animal population management, shelter animal healthcare, and animal welfare. In recent years, the project has expanded its outreach beyond Taiwan, sharing its experience in veterinary medicine and professional training through international exchanges and hands-on collaboration. These efforts highlight Taiwan’s contributions to advancing animal health and welfare through education and professional partnerships.
Building on last year’s collaboration, USR StrayLOHAS Project dispatched a seven-member professional team to Palau to conduct a three-day veterinary outreach mission at the Koror State Animal Shelter. The mission received an enthusiastic response from the local community, with 25 surgical procedures scheduled over three working days, including spay and neuter surgeries and other soft tissue procedures. Free veterinary consultations were also arranged for local animals.
Recognizing the limited veterinary workforce and medical resources available in Palau, the team brought essential veterinary supplies from Taiwan to support clinical services and help alleviate the workload of the local government veterinarian responsible for animal healthcare and shelter operations.
Beyond providing veterinary services, this year’s mission places particular emphasis on local capacity building. USR StrayLOHAS Project team organized practical training sessions for local animal care volunteers, covering basic veterinary assistance skills, including needle handling and radiographic imaging procedures. The team also provided free educational materials to promote environmental hygiene and awareness of zoonotic disease prevention. Through knowledge sharing and community education, the initiative seeks to strengthen local animal care capabilities and ensure that the benefits of bilateral cooperation extend beyond the mission itself.
The continued engagement of USR StrayLOHAS Project team reflects Taiwan’s commitment to addressing the needs of its diplomatic allies through professional expertise and educational cooperation. By encouraging young professionals to apply their knowledge and skills in international settings, the initiative highlights the role of Taiwan’s higher education institutions in fostering global engagement and meaningful contributions to partner communities. Such exchanges further strengthen the friendship between the peoples of Taiwan and Palau and reinforce the longstanding partnership between the two countries. (PR)