MOE Fed Starving Wild Animals at Areas with Heavy Snowfall

□ The Ministry of Environment fed starving wild animals at areas with heavy snowfall so as to prevent their starvation and to raise the public awareness of protecting wild animals.

○ For two weeks from January 11, 2010, 8,000 persons from MOE, local governments, military, the Korea National Park, and Korea Wild Animal & Plant Service had distributed 90 tons of feed for wild animals at 91 areas.

□ The amount and type of feed were decided based on the result of previous researches on habitats of wild animals. In addition, other protection activities were also carried out -- collecting illegal hunting tools such as snare and trap, and rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals.

<Plan about Feeding Wild Animals by Area>

□ In particular, MOE and the Korea Wild Animal & Plant Service held a special event of feeding wild animals in Yangju-gun on January 15, 2010, participated by 480 including the minister of environment, assemblymen(Seong-su Kim and So-nam Kim), and mayors of Dongducheon and Pocheon City.

○ Feed was scattered by participants walking up hills and for rugged mountains two military helicopters scattered feed from the air.

※ 5 tons of feed including corn, acorn, and rye were distributed at habitats of roe deer, elk, and racoon -- Yangju(Gamaksan, Bulgoksan, Cheonbosan, Cheolbongsan, and Nogosan), Dongducheon(Soyosan), and Pocheon(Wangbangsan).

□ Under the supervision of regional environmental offices and local governments, and being supported by private organizations, the feeding program will be continuously performed until the end of February 2010 so that wild animals can get through winter safely.

Jong-won Choi, Gap-hyun Jo (+82-2-2110-6758), Nature Resources Division, Ministry of Environment