Gwangju City Releases Natural Monument 'Haneul Daramswi' Back into Mudeungsan After Treatment

Photo of a flying squirrel provided by the Ministry of Environment

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute Wildlife Rescue Management Center (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Gwangju Center’) announced on the 15th that it released the natural monument flying squirrel (Natural Monument No. 328, Endangered Wildlife Class II) into Mudeungsan Mountain.

The flying squirrel released this time was caught in sticky mouse glue in Mudeungsan National Park last December, injuring its skin, and the Gwangju Center has been providing treatment and rehabilitation for about 20 days.

The Gwangju Center, which began full-scale operations in January last year, has rescued 249 wild animals of 62 species throughout Gwangju.

Among the wild animals rescued in the Gwangju area last year, birds accounted for the largest number with 214 (86%), followed by mammals with 31 (13%), and reptiles with 4 (1%).

This included 53 individuals of 12 species of natural monuments and endangered animals such as Blakiston's fish owl, Eurasian eagle-owl, and leopard cat.

By type of rescue, collisions with buildings and vehicles were the most common with 96 cases (39%), followed by 89 cases (36%) of ‘lost young’ who lost their mothers, 26 cases (10%) of intrusion into human settlements, and 38 cases (15%) of other cases such as sticky glue traps.

Detailed information on wildlife rescue and treatment can be found on the Gwangju Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute website.

Baek Seong-yeol, head of the Wildlife Rescue Management Center, said, “Among the 249 wild animals rescued in emergency situations, 85 cases underwent treatment and rehabilitation and were released back into nature, prioritizing the areas where they were first rescued. We will continue to do our best to protect wild animals in the Gwangju area.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.