Sejong, April 25 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that the wildlife sanctuary opened on April 17, 2023, in the Chungnam Wildlife Rescue Center (Gongju University Yesan Campus). 

The "Wildlife Sanctuary" will protect the wildlife that has been abandoned or neglected and requires special care due to difficulties adapting to the Korean ecosystem. In addition to abandoned wildlife, the shelter will protect the wildlife that has lost its wildness and cannot return to nature.

Recently, there have been several cases where wildlife is raised for personal ownership or display purposes and then abandoned. Even if abandoned wildlife is rescued and re-adopted by people, it is highly likely to be left again, unlike companion animals that have been domesticated and are accustomed to living with humans. If exotic wildlife is released into the wild, there is also a risk of disrupting the domestic ecosystem, making it inevitable for such species to reside in protection facilities.

The Ministry of Environment cooperated with wildlife rescue centers in 10 metropolitan cities and provinces to protect abandoned wildlife within these centers. However, there have been limitations in protecting wildlife due to the insufficient holding capacity of rescue centers primarily focusing on rescuing and treating these animals.

To overcome these limitations, the Chungnam Wildlife Rescue Center has built a separate sanctuary (with a capacity of up to 30 animals) for abandoned wildlife, the first of its kind in Korea. This sanctuary provides wildlife with an environment that resembles their natural habitat.

In addition, the Ministry plans to establish two additional wildlife sanctuaries in Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, one within the National Ecological Institute (NEI) and the other on the former Janghang Refinery site to prepare in advance for the overcapacity of the current sanctuary. Scheduled to open by the end of 2023, the wildlife sanctuary within NEI is expected to have a capacity of approximately 300 animals. And the sanctuary on the former Janghang Refinery site, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2025, is expected to have a capacity of approximately 800 animals.

Minister Han Hwa-jin said, "While it would be ideal for abandoned or injured wildlife to return to their natural habitat, some wildlife may no longer be able to live in the wild." She further emphasized, "It is our responsibility to ensure that wildlife that has been hurt and abandoned due to human selfishness can live happier lives. We will continue implementing policies that can protect abandoned wildlife."

The Ministry of Environment also guides people to report injured or abandoned wildlife to the local wildlife rescue center before taking unauthorized action.

Contact: Kim Se-hyun, Deputy Director

Biodiversity Division / +82-(0)44-201-7243

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr