Luring black kite birds by feeding them for photographs has caught the attention of the Keelung City Government in Taiwan. 

Photographers have been scattering shredded meat and other food entrails to attract the birds so they can take photos of the animals, but officials said that instead of helping the birds, the photographers further endanger the animals' lives. 

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"Long-term feeding would hinder the bird's ability to hunt and survive the wild," said Chen Jui-pin, director of the Keelung Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office.

Black kites are on the Council of Agriculture's wildlife conservation list. They are known to frequent the Keelung Port. The public is already banned from feeding the birds, but many people still continue the practice.

"Those who fail to comply with the regulations after repeated warnings are to be detained and fined between NT$60,000 ($1,800) to NT$300,000 ($9,000) as stipulated in the Wildlife Conservation Act," the city government said in a statement.

Should the feeding cause the death of the birds, the penalties will be increased to NT$100,000 ($3,000) to NT$500,000 ($15,000) and jail time of up to two years. 

According to the Marine Pollution Prevention Act and the Commercial Port Act, throwing entrails and meat into the sea and jumping over the fences around the plaza also qualify for the aforementioned fines. 

"However, the city will first strive to persuade people to refrain from engaging in such acts. Penalties will be reserved for incidents where there are no other alternatives," said Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang. 

Tagsbird-feeding, Keelung, black kites