Tigers, hyenas, kinkajous, coatis, fennec foxes, sheep, meerkats and boer goats gave birth to offspring eight months after the zoo’s opening. (image:Samjung The Park)
SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – How did a straw rope come to be hung over the walls of a zoo? Samjung The Park, Busan’s only zoo, surprised visitors by hanging a straw rope with little charms on it. This ornament is called a ‘geumjul’ in Korea, and it is a special rope to be hung in a house where a new baby is born. The ornament is believed to chase away bad luck and diseases.
The presence of a geumjul in Samjung The Park indicated the presence of new babies, but not just any babies. Tigers, hyenas, kinkajous, coatis, fennec foxes, sheep, meerkats and boer goats gave birth to offspring eight months after the zoo’s opening. The birth of these exotic animals surprised visitors and even zoo personnel, since there had been some concern over criticism that animals in the zoo might be having difficulty adjusting to the new environment.
This ornament is called a ‘geumjul’ in Korea, and it is a special rope to be hung in a house where a new baby is born. (image:Samjung The Park)
However, the birth of the new animals should finally put an end to the worries. Now the zoo is celebrating the births with traditional ornaments hung over the stalls where the offspring have arrived. Pictures of the new additions are also hanging around the stalls.
An Dong-su, head of the zoo’s animal management office, said that geumjul are special ornaments that chase away evil spirits and bad luck, and their traditional value is now a part of the zoo’s promotional event. He also said that another happy moment should be coming to the zoo soon, since zebras and Himalayan black bears are also due to give birth.
Samjung The Park is currently holding a‘Winter Animal Kingdom Festival.’ A parade of cute animals under the snow and an artificial snow sled are attracting visitors. The zoo’s sheep farm, ‘Haneul Farm (Sky Farm)’ is especially popular among visitors. The farm is also offering two free events, a reptile ethnology fair and magic shows.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
