Tiger designated South Korea's 'Endangered Wildlife of the Month'

The Amur tiger, a symbol of the Korean Peninsula's forest ecosystem, has been recognized as South Korea's 'Endangered Wildlife of the Month' for July, highlighting its precarious status. Once a dominant predator, the tiger has largely disappeared from South Korea due to hunting for its pelt and eradication programs during the Japanese colonial period.

It is presumed extinct in South Korea, with only a small number of individuals believed to inhabit the Hamgyong Province of North Korea. The species also survives in northeastern China and the Russian Far East, where the largest populations are found. Globally, tigers are classified into nine subspecies, three of which, the Caspian, Javan, and Bali tigers, are already extinct.

The designation by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment underscores the severe threats facing the remaining six subspecies, including the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) that once roamed Korea. Habitat destruction, a dwindling food supply, and ongoing conflicts with humans are pushing these magnificent animals towards extinction.

Amur tigers are large carnivores, with males reaching up to 280 cm in length and weighing up to 250 kg. They inhabit vast, dense forests and mark extensive territories, with males claiming up to 1,400 sq km. Their diet consists mainly of wild boar and deer. While mating occurs between November and March, and females typically give birth to two to three cubs, these cubs only become independent around the age of two. The wild lifespan is estimated at 10 to 15 years.

South Korea has strict laws protecting endangered wildlife. Capturing, damaging, or killing an endangered species like the tiger without a permit can result in imprisonment of up to five years or fines ranging from 5 million to 50 million won. More information on endangered species is available on the websites of the National Institute of Biological Resources and the National Institute of Ecology.