Yeongsangang Environmental Office Intensifies Crackdown on Winter Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] The Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office announced that it will strengthen crackdowns on wintertime poaching of wildlife and other illegal activities for four months from the 2nd to March 12 of next year, in cooperation with local governments and the Wildlife Management Association.

During this focused crackdown, illegal capture and acquisition of wildlife, as well as illegal sale and installation of traps, will be detected mainly in large migratory bird habitats and areas suspected of poaching.

In particular, not only eating illegally captured wild animals but also storing, distributing, processing, and selling them can all be subject to punishment, so special caution is required.

If wildlife poaching or illegal trade is detected, offenders will be punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 50 million won according to Article 67 of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act.

Additionally, to encourage active participation from residents, a “Poaching and Illegal Trade Reporting Reward System” is also operated, which pays up to 5 million won for reporting poachers of endangered wildlife.

Reports can be made through the Environmental Hotline, the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, the relevant local governments, or police stations.

A representative of the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office urged, “As wildlife poaching and illegal trade are becoming increasingly sophisticated and specialized, active interest from residents is necessary, and please report immediately if you witness such illegal activities.”

They added, “ASF (African Swine Fever) is occurring in Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do regions,” and requested, “Please report immediately if you find wild boar carcasses.”

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