Ttaoki Prepares to Fly to Changnyeong Upo Wetland

40 Additional Animals Scheduled for Release Between March and April
First Release of 40 Animals in May Last Year
27 Confirmed Alive in the Wild

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Son Tae-seok] Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, has completed the selection of individuals for the 2nd release of wild Oriental white storks and plans to release 40 storks into Upo Wetland between March and April.

Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam Province is preparing for the second wild release of the crested ibis. The photo shows a crested ibis adapted to the wild catching fish.

The storks to be released will undergo training at the wild adaptation training center established within the Oriental white stork restoration center starting three months before the release to maximize their natural adaptation abilities.

When releasing into the wild, the ratio of males to females is adjusted to about two to one to prepare for unexpected situations that may occur with the more sensitive females compared to males.

Changnyeong-gun plans to balance the male-to-female ratio for smooth mating as the wild population increases in the future.

On May 22 last year, the county released 40 storks in the 1st wild release and has been managing all individuals by attaching GPS location trackers.

Among the 40 released, 27 storks are currently surviving in the wild, and 11 have died. Most of the surviving storks inhabit Upo Wetland and the area around the Oriental white stork restoration center.

Changnyeong-gun will consult with the Ministry of Environment, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and Gyeongnam Province regarding the final release schedule.

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