Endangered Grade 1 Natural Monument Korean Goral Discovered on Yongmasan Mountain in Jungnang-gu

Jungnang-gu Internet Broadcasting Station Program 'Jungnang Today' Informs About the Habitat of Sanyang to Encourage Residents' Protection Participation... Various Programs Including SNS Event for Naming the Grade 1 Natural Monument Sanyang Provided

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] A critically endangered first-class Korean goral has been rediscovered on Yongmasan Mountain in Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi).

The district announced that on the 10th, Choi, an administrative officer working at Jungnang-gu Office, accidentally captured footage of the goral on a hiking trail behind Yongma Waterfall Park while filming the ‘Jungnang Today’ Yongmasan episode for the Jungnang-gu Internet Broadcasting Station program.

Choi, who discovered the goral, said, “I had heard that gorals lived here, but it is amazing and joyful to see one up close and even film it on Yongmasan Mountain.”

The goral, designated as Natural Monument No. 217 and a critically endangered species, has occasionally appeared on Yongmasan Mountain in Jungnang-gu since May 2018. When the footage was reviewed, the goral appeared much plumper than previous sightings, raising the possibility of pregnancy. After consulting with the Northern Conservation Center of the National Park Research Institute under the Korea National Park Service, it was confirmed that the goral living on Yongmasan is a male that has gained weight in preparation for winter.

Additionally, the Northern Conservation Center added that the abundant water and rocky cliffs of Yongma Waterfall Park provide a natural environment well suited to the habitat conditions of gorals, which live in steep, rocky forest areas, suggesting that this is why they reside there.

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is taking the lead in protecting the gorals living on Yongmasan Mountain in the urban area and has launched a campaign to inform residents about the gorals to prevent surprise encounters.

From the 19th to December 13th, the district will hold a naming event on social media for the goral to raise awareness about the goral and promote the conservation of Yongmasan’s natural ecological environment and public interest in nature.

Under the title “Give a wonderful name to the precious goral living on Yongmasan Mountain,” this event will be held simultaneously across six SNS platforms including blogs, Facebook, and Instagram. Among the residents who participate in naming the goral, first, second, and third place winners will be selected and awarded Jungnang Love Gift Certificates.

There will also be a comment event for impressions after watching a YouTube video. Starting on the 18th, viewers who watch the ‘Jungnang Today’ Yongmasan episode featuring vivid footage of the goral on Jungnang-gu’s official YouTube channel and leave their impressions will be among the first 50 selected to receive gifticons.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “Jungnang-gu is a beautiful area surrounded by natural environments such as Yongmasan, Mangusan, and Bonghwasan Mountains where gorals live. We will preserve the natural environment so that the gorals living on Yongmasan can continue to live with us in their natural state for a long time.”

Meanwhile, a Jungnang-gu official requested residents to refrain from feeding the gorals or giving them excessive attention to ensure their health and safety on Yongmasan Mountain.

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