Woman Gets Suspended Sentence for Rescuing Baby Crow

A South Korean woman in her 40s has received a suspended jail sentence for capturing a baby crow from the wild and keeping it at her home. The court handed down a suspended sentence of 700,000 won (approximately $530), meaning she will avoid punishment if she refrains from committing further crimes for two years.

The woman, identified only as Ms. K, was prosecuted under the Wildlife Protection and Management Act. She reportedly found the young crow in a park in Uijeongbu city and took it home out of pity. She kept the bird for about a week before returning it to its original location.

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I found a baby crow while returning from hiking and took it home because I felt sorry for it.

Prosecutors argued that capturing or collecting wild animals, even those not classified as endangered, is prohibited by law. The court acknowledged that Ms. K was remorseful, had no prior criminal record, and acted without full knowledge of the law's implications. These factors were considered in the sentencing, leading to the suspended sentence.

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We considered that the defendant is remorseful, has no prior record, and committed the offense without fully understanding the relevant laws.