In the valley of Shakadang River at Taroko National Park, a Central Formosan toad (Bufo bankorensis) was frightened by my obtrusive presence. It leaped into a stack of stones,and hid itself by emerging its black-grayish body into the background without moving a peg. It knew well that staying still was the best way to keep its life in the face of a big fellow like me.

After quite a while as I finally found it and started to approach it, I kept taking pictures of it as I stood, squatted,and at the end, lay prone on the riverbed. Looking at it through my viewfinder that way, I saw a very different toad:It looked fierce and scary with a pair of bright eyes and a perfect body color as a wonderful camouflage.

At that moment I realized a few things. First, the tough look and the protective color are what the toad’s enemies see about it. Second, we always tend to see this world from the perspective of humans, but the world would be surprisingly different if we learn to view it from different levels of height.

Mao-yao Lin

Lin received his master's degree from the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Leisure studies,National Dong Hwa University. As a contracted interpreter in Taroko National Park, where he hasserved for more than twenty years, Lin has long been dedicated to the work of environmental interpretation and environmental education. He has written Walking into Taroko: Gorge Trail and Walking into Taroko: Hehuan Mountain Trail.

• upper left：valley of Shakadang River at Taroko National Park
• left center：Bufo bankorensis