The Korea National Park Service (KNPS) announced it had observed 4 eco-corridors in national parks since 2006 and found that 40 species including endangered ones such as Asiatic black bears and gorals had used those 1,024times.

National Park Research Institute, affiliated to the Korea National Park Service, installed unmanned cameras at four eco-corridors in Siamjae in Jirisan, Jingogae in Odaesan, Jukryeong in Sobaeksan, and Hangyeryeong in Seoraksan and observed migration of wild animals from 2006 to 2009. As a result, it found that use of eco-corridors by wild animals had increased every year.

For four years, about 40 species of wild animals used eco-corridors – 20 species of mammals, 15 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and 2 species of reptiles. In particular, endangered species including Asiatic black bear, goral, otter, leopard cat and yellow-throated marten used eco-corridors.

A researcher of the institute said eco-corridor is an essential way to prevent separation of wild animals’ habitat by roads and it needs to require local governments to build more eco-corridors nationally.

Leopard Cat, migrating through an eco-corridor

Yellow-Throated Marten in an eco-corridor

Asiatic Black Bear in an eco-corridor

Eco-corridor under a road, which passes through Jirisan National Park