The "Galbisaja" trend: Living together with daughter "Gureumi" in one house

Gureumi to Undergo Neutering Surgery Before Reunion with Her Father
Barami and His Daughter Begin New Life Together at Cheongju Zoo

The elderly male lion "Barami" (21), who earned the nickname "Galbi Lion" due to his emaciated body, will be introduced to live together with his daughter, the female lion "Gureumi" (8), next month. Gureumi will undergo neutering surgery before their reunion.

According to Yonhap News on the 31st, Cheongju City announced that the male lion Barami and his daughter Gureumi (8), rescued from Bukyeong Zoo in Gimhae, will be introduced to live together at Cheongju Zoo next month.

The lioness 'Gureumi', daughter of the male lion 'Barami'. Provided by Cheongju City

Following the decision to introduce them at Cheongju Zoo, Gureumi is scheduled to undergo neutering surgery on the 1st of next month at the zoo's Wildlife Conservation Center. This is to prevent inbreeding with Barami and to prevent reproductive system diseases. Reproductive system diseases frequently occur in large female felines whose breeding has been stopped. Dodo, a female lion living at Cheongju Zoo along with Gureumi, also once faced a life-threatening situation due to pyometra and other conditions.

After surgery and a recovery period, Gureumi will reunite with her father Barami on the 11th of next month at the main release yard of the wildlife protection facility. Originally, both Barami and Gureumi lived at Bukyeong Zoo in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province. However, in June 2023, the Gimhae City Hall website's "Requests to the Mayor of Gimhae" section was flooded with complaints and criticism about the neglect of animals at Bukyeong Zoo. Complainants posted photos of lions so thin that their ribs were clearly visible, demanding the zoo's closure. This lion, so emaciated that its ribs were exposed and nicknamed the "Galbi Lion," is the current Barami.

'Barami' living at Busan-Gyeongnam Zoo in 2023. Photo by Yonhap News

Subsequently, in July 2023, the lion was transferred to Cheongju Zoo, a municipal zoo operated by Cheongju City, where he was named "Barami." Since then, he has regained a healthy appearance, boasting a hearty appetite and enjoying walking on soil. However, after Barami's transfer, Bukyeong Zoo worsened public opinion by placing Barami's 4-year-old daughter, a female lion previously raised in an outdoor enclosure, into an empty indoor cage. Facing ongoing criticism over poor breeding conditions, Bukyeong Zoo was eventually closed in November of the same year.

Afterward, Gureumi was temporarily sheltered at an animal farm in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, before being moved to Cheongju Zoo in August last year. There, she underwent face-to-face and cross-release training to prepare for living together with her father Barami and Dodo. It is reported that the father and daughter lions never lived together at Bukyeong Zoo due to concerns about inbreeding.

A Cheongju Zoo official stated, "Gureumi's surgery will be performed using laparoscopy, which allows for a quick recovery," adding, "To prevent accidents during surgery, we plan to collaborate with veterinarians from other zoos."

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