BUSAN, Aug. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — In a move seen as both scientific and symbolic, South Korea has published the world’s first complete genome sequence of the extinct Dokdo sea lion (Dokdo Ganchi or Dokdo Kangchi) —commonly known in the West as the “Japanese sea lion”—while using the name “Dokdo sea lion” in a peer-reviewed international [...]
BUSAN, Aug.13 (Korea Bizwire) — A team of South Korean researchers has successfully decoded the full genome of the extinct sea lion species, known as Kangchi, which once inhabited Dokdo Island. The breakthrough, the first of its kind in the world, provides scientific evidence that the species’ extinction was primarily caused by overhunting during the [...]
TONGYEONG, Aug. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Tongyeong’s public cat protection and adoption center, known as the “Cat School,” has come under scrutiny for alleged neglect of its feline residents, sparking controversy and raising questions about its management. Opened in September 2023 in a repurposed island school in the picturesque village of Yongcho, the Cat School aims [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — August 8 marks World Cat Day, a global observance established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in 2002 to improve awareness about cats and acknowledge their value alongside humans. The day promotes the importance of protecting and caring for cats, with an emphasis on adoption, particularly of [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on August 8 that twin Eurasian otters were born at the Children’s Grand Park Zoo in Gwangjin-gu on June 24. The birth is a significant event for conservation efforts, as the Eurasian otter was designated a natural monument in South Korea in 1982 and is classified [...]
SEOUL, August 7 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea is set to release 30 red foxes into the Sobaeksan Mountains this year, part of a long-running restoration effort to bring back a species once common across the Korean Peninsula but driven to the brink of extinction by human intervention in the 1970s. The Korea National Park [...]
BUSAN, August 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s fisheries authorities have issued a public advisory following the rapid spread of the subtropical Blue Button Jellyfish (Porpita porpita) across the nation’s southern and eastern coasts, raising concerns over potential allergic reactions in beachgoers. According to the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), the jellyfish—first detected off [...]
NAMYANGJU, August 1 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea grapples with a prolonged summer heatwave, a shelter for rescued dogs in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, is taking extraordinary measures to shield its residents from the sweltering sun. Operated by the animal welfare group Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), the “On Center” is home to 213 dogs, [...]
UIJEONGBU, South Korea, July 30 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea endures an unrelenting heatwave with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, over 81,000 chickens and pigs have died in Gyeonggi Province alone between July 11 and 25, according to local government data released Wednesday. The fatalities began mounting shortly after heat advisories were issued across [...]
SEOUL, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — In a nation known for its rigorous education system, even dogs are facing entrance exams. A growing number of South Korean dog daycare centers — dubbed “pet kindergartens” — are implementing admission tests to assess a dog’s socialization, obedience, and emotional stability before enrollment. The trend has sparked comparisons to [...]