"Raising Hyenas and Bats in Residential Areas... Wildlife Breeding Must Be Prohibited"

Checking Wildlife Management System Triggered by Amsa Lion Sason
"Unregulated Private Wildlife Trade Must Be Prevented"

Following the incident involving the female lion 'Sasuni,' who escaped from a private farm in Gyeongbuk and was subsequently shot dead, there are calls to comprehensively review the wildlife management system. Lee Hyung-joo, CEO of the Animal Welfare Issue Research Institute Aware, stated, "Wild animals repeatedly escape and die during capture processes," adding, "This incident should serve as an opportunity to thoroughly examine our country's wildlife system."

Sasuni, who was 20 years old and elderly, escaped from a private farm in Deokgok-myeon, Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk, at around 7:24 a.m. on the 14th. About an hour after the escape, at approximately 8:34 a.m., Sasuni was found in a forest about 20 to 30 meters away from the farm and was shot dead by police officers and hunters who were conducting a search.

The farm owner, Mr. A, who was raising Sasuni, had taken over the lion from the previous owner. Mr. A explained to Yonhap News that he acquired the farm last August to raise cattle, and upon visiting the site, he found that Sasuni, who had been raised by the previous owner, was there.

On the morning of the 14th, a female lion named 'Sasun-i' that escaped from a ranch in Deokgok-myeon, Goryeong-gun, Gyeongbuk, fled into the mountains. [Image provided by Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, Yonhap News]

In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 16th, CEO Lee pointed out, "When ownership changes, a transfer report must be submitted to the Environmental Agency," adding, "(The facility where Sasuni lived) does not appear to be capable of any professional response in such situations. Since the Ministry of Environment is responsible for managing zoos, they should have actively sought facilities that could accommodate such cases."

According to CEO Lee, online wildlife trading between individuals is frequently conducted without regulation. He stated, "Internationally endangered species must be registered with breeding facilities, but animals not falling under this category can be freely kept and are still traded online. Civilians keep animals such as civets, bats, raccoons, and hyenas, and these animals are freely sold through internet cafes."

He further emphasized, "Last year, the Wildlife Protection Act was amended to define animals that individuals can own, and its enforcement is imminent. It is necessary to thoroughly establish this law so that, in principle, breeding wild animals is prohibited, and only in exceptional cases can they be kept under appropriate standards and management, thereby transforming the institutional system."

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