Endangered Level 2 'Salk' Confirmed at Seoul Amsa Ecological Park: "Signal of Ecosystem Recovery"

Confirmed Presence of 'Salk' Individuals in Amsa Ecological Park, an Ecological Landscape Conservation Area within Gwangnaru Hangang Park

Endangered Wildlife Level II 'Salk' Discovered at Amsa Ecological Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Hangang Project Headquarters announced on the 24th that it has confirmed the presence of the leopard cat (scientific name Prionailurus bengalensis), designated as a Class II endangered wild species by the Ministry of Environment, living in Amsa Ecological Park.

The leopard cat is a mammal belonging to the carnivorous family Felidae. It was first designated as an endangered wild animal and plant and protected wild animal and plant in 1998, and is currently designated and managed as a Class II endangered wild species.

The individual confirmed this time in Amsa Ecological Park is a juvenile leopard cat independent from its mother, observed hunting around a water puddle. The first confirmation of the leopard cat in Amsa Ecological Park was in June last year, when feces were observed on the wooden deck path along the Hangang River, and since then, feces have occasionally been found around the trails and the management office.

In addition to the leopard cat, various species such as raccoons, otters, weasels, moles, and water deer, as well as amphibians and insects like the black-spotted pond frog, toads, Chinese pond turtles, striped skinks, and dung beetles, inhabit Amsa Ecological Park.

The Hangang Project Headquarters views the increasing diversity of species and the continuous discovery of endangered species in the ecological park as the result of park management focused on restoring naturalness and ongoing ecosystem monitoring. Each ecological park manages the distribution status of species through regular monitoring and builds a database on species changes through a monitoring team composed of staff, experts, and citizens.

Hwang In-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Hangang Project Headquarters, said, “The consecutive discoveries of endangered species in the Hangang River are the results of continuously promoting natural restoration such as the creation of the Hangang Ecological Forest. Seoul will continue to restore the ecological value of the Hangang River.”

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