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Life for animals in the wild is a constant struggle full of hardship. Any yet, humans make their lives even harder by hunting them down, sometimes for food, for the pathetic vanity of fashion, or sadly for nothing more than so-called sport.
Korea has long had a problem with reckless hunting and poaching. Things were once out of control in Korea, with people poaching and hunting with impunity and without understanding the dynamics of the ecosystems or wildlife populations around them. Many species are now endangered and some are on the verge of extinction because of this.
After recognition of the damage being done, hunting was totally prohibited by law in 1972. But in 1982, a limited Circulation Hunting System was introduced. Certain regions now have hunting reserves. Also, hunters are allowed to hunt in two commercial hunting parks, as long as they have a hunting license gained by passing a hunters’ "exam," which in realty entails just listening to a lecture.
One thing that usually follows a higher standard of living are more leisure time and leisure activities, and that includes hunting. The number of hunters in Korea has dramatically increased over the years. However, the good news is that it is still low compared to other developed countries.
It is also fortunate too that hunting land animals is not that popular in Korea. People are very aware of the damage to the environment, of low wildlife populations, and of protests from conservationists. So, many people now see hunters as poachers, or criminals.
However, this does not mean that the government is in control of hunting or knows how to control wildlife. It has tried to restore animals to the wild but these creatures have not escaped the poachers.
When wildlife encroach on human habits, the first impulse of officials is to kill. There was once an incident when a wild boar came to a city in search of food. In the name of safety, it was killed cruelly rather than being captures and released back in the wild. This is the reality of Korea when it comes to wildlife protection.
KARA remains concerned with hunting and the state of wildlife in Korea because of animals such as the black bear. And it is not just hunting in Korea that is of concern. Products from hunting enter into Korea because of demand. Thus it is as important to educate people in Korea about the evils of hunting around the world.
Regrettably, South Korea is one of the world's largest consumers of bear parts. Bear bile is in demand for medicines and customers may pay up to $1000 for a bowl of bear paw soup in some South Korean restaurants. Because black bears are now so rare in the country, consumers buy from other countries. As a consequence, much of the poaching of bears that goes in other countries serves the Korean market.
The situation is made worse by the Korean government, as it does little to change public perceptions or opinion by its active support of bear farms, by making it legal to trade bear gall and by allowing the killing of farm bears. Bears that are bred on farms in Korea suffer lives of cruelty and deprivation as bad if not worse than the inhumane treatment meted out to Korean dogs. The Korean government is as irresponsible and cruel as any reckless hunter.
So much for the bear of Korean legend, the mother of the Korean nation! It is no longer safe in the wild because of hunting and it has become just another money making opportunity locked in cage.
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