A restoration project is underway to reintroduce the endangered black stork, which has not bred in South Korea for 60 years, by bringing in wild specimens from Mongolia. The government plans to complete the necessary scientific assessments for the introduction of wild individuals by the end of this year, with the aim of establishing a foundation for domestic breeding trials as early as the first half of next year.
The National Institute of Ecology, under the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, announced on August 19 that it is pursuing international cooperation with the Wildlife Science Conservation Center (WSCC) in Mongolia to facilitate the introduction of black stork populations into South Korea.
The black stork is a large bird, measuring 90 to 100 centimeters in length, and is classified as an endangered species in South Korea. While it can be observed in winter along the Nakdong River, Cheonsu Bay, and Jeju Island, fewer than 20 individuals are known to winter in the country.
Notably, the domestic breeding population has effectively disappeared. There is a record of breeding in Gasang Village, Andong, in 1965, but no breeding cases have been confirmed in South Korea since 1968.
In June, the National Institute of Ecology and the WSCC signed a memorandum of understanding in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, agreeing to conduct joint research over the next five years on the conservation, restoration, and reintroduction of endangered wildlife, including the black stork.
Following the agreement, the two organizations investigated the breeding status of black storks in Mongolia's Khentii Province from late June to late July. They identified a total of seven nests, four of which contained ten young black storks. Based on this, the National Institute of Ecology assessed that the local population's breeding status is stable.
Currently, a risk assessment is also underway to evaluate whether the capture or international trade of wild individuals would negatively impact the survival of natural populations. This procedure is required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) before any introduction of individuals.
The National Institute of Ecology plans to complete the risk assessment by the second half of this year and then proceed with domestic quarantine and international permit procedures sequentially. Based on the assessment results, they aim to establish a foundation for the introduction of black storks and domestic breeding trials in the first half of next year.
The restoration process will not only involve bringing in individuals but also conducting joint efforts with Mongolia to investigate the distribution and breeding status of wild populations, manage genetic diversity, and develop breeding techniques.
Lee Chang-seok, director of the National Institute of Ecology, stated, "The restoration of the black stork is not just about returning a single species; it is a process of restoring the Northeast Asian ecosystem based on scientific evidence and international cooperation. We will work closely with Mongolia to prepare for the day when the black stork can once again soar in our skies."
The National Institute of Ecology, under the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, announced on August 19 that it is pursuing international cooperation with the Wildlife Science Conservation Center (WSCC) in Mongolia to facilitate the introduction of black stork populations into South Korea.
The black stork is a large bird, measuring 90 to 100 centimeters in length, and is classified as an endangered species in South Korea. While it can be observed in winter along the Nakdong River, Cheonsu Bay, and Jeju Island, fewer than 20 individuals are known to winter in the country.
Notably, the domestic breeding population has effectively disappeared. There is a record of breeding in Gasang Village, Andong, in 1965, but no breeding cases have been confirmed in South Korea since 1968.
In June, the National Institute of Ecology and the WSCC signed a memorandum of understanding in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, agreeing to conduct joint research over the next five years on the conservation, restoration, and reintroduction of endangered wildlife, including the black stork.
Following the agreement, the two organizations investigated the breeding status of black storks in Mongolia's Khentii Province from late June to late July. They identified a total of seven nests, four of which contained ten young black storks. Based on this, the National Institute of Ecology assessed that the local population's breeding status is stable.
Currently, a risk assessment is also underway to evaluate whether the capture or international trade of wild individuals would negatively impact the survival of natural populations. This procedure is required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) before any introduction of individuals.
The National Institute of Ecology plans to complete the risk assessment by the second half of this year and then proceed with domestic quarantine and international permit procedures sequentially. Based on the assessment results, they aim to establish a foundation for the introduction of black storks and domestic breeding trials in the first half of next year.
The restoration process will not only involve bringing in individuals but also conducting joint efforts with Mongolia to investigate the distribution and breeding status of wild populations, manage genetic diversity, and develop breeding techniques.
Lee Chang-seok, director of the National Institute of Ecology, stated, "The restoration of the black stork is not just about returning a single species; it is a process of restoring the Northeast Asian ecosystem based on scientific evidence and international cooperation. We will work closely with Mongolia to prepare for the day when the black stork can once again soar in our skies."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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