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🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

Newborn Bear Cub Found at South Korean Farm Amidst Illegal Breeding Concerns

From Hankyoreh · (7m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A two-to-three-month-old Asiatic black bear cub was discovered at a bear farm in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, marking the first birth at such a facility since the government declared an end to bear farming.
  • The farm, housing 62 adult bears, was found to be illegally breeding the cub despite a ban on bear farming and breeding, which took effect January 1, and a six-month grace period for penalties.
  • Animal rights groups are calling for the immediate rescue of the cub and its mother, while the government states it will protect illegally bred bears once a court order is issued, and is considering additional protection facilities.

The recent discovery of a baby Asiatic black bear cub at a bear farm in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, highlights the ongoing struggle to end the cruel practice of bear farming. This cub, born after the government's declaration to phase out bear farming, is a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. The farm, described as having a foul odor and cramped, unsanitary conditions, houses 62 adult bears. The situation is particularly dire as the cub's mother is also present, and animal welfare groups have expressed grave concerns about the survival of such young animals in these environments.

This farm illegally bred 6 cubs in 2022, but 5 died due to the poor environment. The survival of the bear cub is in a precarious situation.

— Choi Tae-gyuRepresentative of the Bear's Paw Project, commenting on the dire conditions and past deaths at the farm.

Despite the law prohibiting bear farming, breeding, and ownership taking effect on January 1, a six-month grace period for penalties has allowed such illegal activities to continue. This loophole has been exploited by some farm owners, who appear to be attempting to replace older bears or obscure the origins of new cubs. The 'Bear's Paw Project' representative, Choi Tae-gyu, pointed out the difficulty in distinguishing bears due to their individual identification challenges, suggesting that illegal breeding could go unnoticed. He also criticized the government's insufficient oversight during this crucial transition period.

It's not illegal to produce one bear cub. I have many grievances.

— Farm owner 'A'Responding to the discovery of the illegally bred cub and defending his actions.

The farm owner, identified as 'A', claims to be unfairly targeted and has offered to give up farming if compensated adequately, suggesting a price of 10 million won per bear. However, animal welfare organizations, which rely on public donations, are offering a maximum of 5 million won per bear for rescue. This disparity in valuation underscores the complex economic and ethical considerations involved in phasing out bear farming. The owner has a history of issues, including bear escapes and illegal slaughter, yet continues to breed bears, demonstrating a clear disregard for the law and animal welfare.

If the government said it would end bear farming, they should have provided adequate compensation for the bears.

— Farm owner 'A'Stating his conditions for giving up bear farming.

Animal rights groups have been actively pushing for intervention, reporting the situation to the Ministry of Environment and filing a complaint against the farm owner. Their efforts, coupled with police involvement, led to the owner eventually revealing the cub and its mother. The Ministry of Environment has stated that they are reviewing legal options for seizure and will protect illegally bred bears once a court order is obtained. They are also exploring the establishment of additional protection facilities to accommodate rescued bears, in addition to the existing 'Gurye Bear Maru Shelter'. The urgency of the situation is clear, as animal rights activists plan to continue their protest until the cub and mother are safely rescued.

The Ministry of Environment is reviewing legal options for seizure and will protect illegally bred bears once a court order is obtained.

— Ministry of Environment officialExplaining the government's plan of action regarding the illegally bred cub.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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