Roadkill Accidents Soar for Seoul’s Stray Cats

As of 2015, there were an estimated 1.89 million domestic cats and 21,300 stray cats, with up to 30,000 being abandoned each year. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The latest data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government has revealed that roughly 5,000 stray cats are killed on Seoul roads each year, making up 80 percent of all roadkill accidents in the city. 

From 2014 to the first half of 2016, 17,036 animals were killed from car accidents in Seoul, 13,604 of which were cats. Felines were followed by dogs (1,517), and others (1,915), including wild boar, roe deer, and birds. 

Of the roadkill deaths, 7,465 took place in 2014, dropping to 6,065 in 2015 before increasing this year to 3,506 in H1. Cat deaths followed a similar pattern with 5,923, 4,883, and 2,798 reported, respectively.

Korea has seen a rising number of domestic cats over the past few years, which has led to a concurrent increase in the number of stray cats.

As of 2015, there were an estimated 1.89 million domestic cats and 21,300 stray cats, with up to 30,000 being abandoned each year. The number of stray cats is expected to be close to 1 million taking into consideration animals unaccounted for in the official statistics.

“Most of the animal ‘street deaths’ reported by our districts are from roadkill accidents,” said a city official. “Stray cats and dogs with no owners tend to make up a large number of these animals.” 

Currently, each of the Seoul districts operates a team of three to six officials that collect animal carcasses when a resident reports a dead animal on a street.

By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)