South Korea’s Gyeonggi province has released 16 rehabilitated wild animals, in partnership with the Imjin River Ecological Conservation Association, a local wildlife protection organisation. Among them were leopard cats, an endangered species in the country, raccoon dogs and weasels.
The animals were found during the breeding season, in spring and summer, after losing their mothers or because they were exhausted or ill. Following reports from residents, they were taken to the northern Gyeonggi wildlife rescue centre.
At the centre they received individual feeding, medical care and gradual training to find food and shelter and to avoid people. Each animal underwent health checks and an assessment of its hunting ability before being cleared to return to the wild.
By August, the province had rescued 3539 wild animals this year and returned 1054 to their habitat. The authorities advise anyone who finds young animals to watch them for a while first, as the mother may be nearby.
