Operation of Wild Animal Damage Prevention Team for Crops in Sancheong-gun

Operation of Damage Prevention Team until November, Simplification of Procedures and ASF Response

Damage to Crops by Protected Wild Animals [Image Source=Sancheong-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, operates a ‘Nuisance Wildlife Damage Prevention Team’ to prevent damage to crops during the harvest season caused by wild animals and to prevent African Swine Fever (ASF).

The county announced on the 14th that it will operate the damage prevention team, consisting of 30 exemplary professional hunters, for eight months until November 30.

The damage prevention team will carry out capture and relief activities targeting nuisance wildlife such as wild boars, water deer, magpies, and oriental magpie-robins during both day and night throughout the period.

According to the county, until now, to capture nuisance wildlife, applicants had to submit an application form directly to the county and obtain permission, which was cumbersome.

To resolve this situation, the county simplified the procedure starting last year, allowing affected farms to report to the relevant eup/myeon office by phone during the operation period.

Accordingly, quick responses became possible: damage farm report → eup/myeon office receives report → damage prevention team notified → immediate dispatch to damage site → capture measures taken.

From April last year to March this year, the county conducted activities to prevent crop damage and the spread of African Swine Fever, capturing 1,564 wild boars and 11 water deer, among others.

A county official stated, “We will focus on capture activities to ensure that crops, which our local farmers have grown with sweat, do not suffer damage,” adding, “In particular, we will carefully manage and guide to comply with safety rules and firearm-related guidelines to prevent any safety accidents, including human casualties or livestock damage.”

Meanwhile, the county is also making all-out efforts by investing 500 million won this year in support projects for installing damage prevention facilities such as solar-powered electric fences and wire fences to reduce crop damage caused by wild animals.

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