The "Galbisaja" wind was rescued... but what about the remaining animals?

Even after Barami, who was called the 'Rib Lion' due to his ribs being starkly visible, was rescued, the problems at Bugyeong Zoo in Bukyeong-dong, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province remain unresolved. Bugyeong Zoo, whose registration was canceled last year, has even received an 'order to close the wildlife exhibition facility,' raising concerns that it may fall into a management blind spot, legally becoming no different from a household keeping many animals.

On February 22, a volunteer group including veterinarians from Cheongju Zoo conducted a health check on the white tiger at Bukyeong Zoo.
[Photo by Gimhae City]

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According to explanations from the Ministry of Environment and Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province on the 7th, following the cancellation of Bugyeong Zoo's registration last November, the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office issued an order to close the wildlife exhibition facility. The environmental office ordered the zoo to transfer or hand over the remaining tigers and lions to other places and to close by the 19th of last month, but this was not carried out. According to animal protection organizations, Bugyeong Zoo currently houses 11 animals, including one white tiger, one female lion, raccoons, and alpacas.

Originally, there were more animals, but many were moved to A Theme Park in Suseong-gu, Daegu, another zoo operated by the same representative. The problem is that A Theme Park is also in poor condition. A fully indoor zoo located in an underground shopping mall, A Theme Park has struggled to maintain the breeding environment after the underground shopping mall operator went bankrupt. In early last month, the electricity was almost cut off, but the bankruptcy trustee of the underground shopping mall paid part of the electricity bill, narrowly avoiding a power outage. A Theme Park has been closed from November 17 last year until September 30 this year.

According to the Ministry of Environment, A Theme Park currently has 279 animals. Among them, 43 are internationally endangered species regulated under the 'Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora' (CITES), including lions, gibbons, red foxes, kinkajous, sulcata tortoises, and hornbills. A Daegu city official in charge said that inspections are conducted about twice a month at A Theme Park, and during last week's inspection, there were no particular problems with food supply; although the lion's condition was poor, appropriate treatment was provided, and the 'minimum breeding environment' is being maintained.

In overseas zoos such as those in the UK and the US, which emphasize animal welfare, animals are not regarded merely as exhibition objects. Zoo animals are protected and recognized as beings that need conservation from the perspective of biodiversity.

On May 30th last year, members of the Dongmul Eun Mulgeongi Anida Yeondae held a press conference in front of the National Assembly building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, demanding the immediate passage of the partial amendment bill to the Civil Act on the 'Non-Objectification of Animals.'
[Photo by Dongmul Eun Mulgeongi Anida Yeondae]

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They provide animals with large areas of space to the extent that it feels like the animals are watching people, and create environments similar to their natural habitats. They offer well-designed programs that allow various behaviors, provide large spaces for large mammals to move freely, and supply balanced diets.

For example, the UK operates the Zoo Licensing Act. This law includes welfare provisions beyond rights, such as food and water to be given to zoo animals, stress prevention, and health management. It even requires the provision of 'secret spaces' where animals can avoid public view to reduce stress. When it is not possible to specify breeding standards by law, guidelines from the national zoo association are followed.

Also, Switzerland's Animal Protection Act stipulates that tigers and lions must have breeding facilities of 30㎡ indoors and 80㎡ outdoors. It also has clear standards for indoor and outdoor breeding and the number of individuals, distinguishing it from South Korea's breeding standards. Zoo problems are not new. The issue is that authorities cannot intervene simply because the 'breeding environment is poor.' According to the Daegu Suseong-gu district's consultation with a lawyer on whether animals at A Theme Park can be quarantined under the Animal Protection Act, the conclusion was that since the operator continues to supply food and manage the animals, it cannot be considered abuse, making quarantine impossible.

Last year, Gimhae-si canceled Bugyeong Zoo's registration due to legal reasons such as failure to meet registration requirements including professional personnel, along with the judgment that even registered zoos cannot be managed by local governments. Previously, in October 2021, the government proposed an amendment to the Civil Act stipulating that 'animals are not objects,' but it has been pending for over two years in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee without significant discussion. With the 21st National Assembly effectively ending and the 22nd National Assembly about to convene, the likelihood of it being processed before the new assembly is low, and it is expected to be automatically discarded.

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