야생 멧돼지를 자식으로 둔 노부부 근황 🐗 10마리 넘는 멧돼지 밥을 챙겨줬었는데.. | KBS 환경스페셜 090401 방송

Summary

An elderly couple in a rural Korean village had been feeding wild boars for 5 years, considering them like their own children. However, as word spread, hunters started setting traps, and the number of visiting boars declined. The husband investigated and discovered widespread illegal hunting activities devastating the local wild boar population. This example highlights the consequences of human encroachment - it alters wild animal behavioral patterns and disrupts the natural ecosystem balance. Some local governments are taking steps to protect wildlife and compensate farmers for damages, aiming to promote peaceful coexistence.

Takeaways

• 😞 An old couple formed a bond with wild boars that visited their home for food.
• 🐗 The number of wild boars visiting the couple's home exceeded 10 at one point.
• 😨 As word spread, hunters started killing the wild boars visiting the couple.
• 😠 The local government offered rewards for reporting wild boar sightings, leading to more hunting.
• 😡 Hunters use dogs to aggressively track and kill wild boars in large numbers.
• 😰 Leg-hold traps inflict immense suffering when they trap wild boars.
• 🧐 Human interference changes wild animals' natural behavioral patterns.
• 😌 The county of Moojoo banned hunting and maintained wildlife populations.
• 👍 Moojoo county compensates farmers for wildlife damages and installs fences.
• 🌿 Coexistence with wildlife is possible with supportive policies and community.

Q & A

What is the special story about the elderly couple and wild boars in Taebaek, Gangwon-do?

The elderly couple, Kim Soon-gil and Yu Chang, have a unique connection with wild boars that visit their humble home in the mountains of Taebaek, Gangwon-do. They feed the wild boars regularly, a practice that led to more than ten boars visiting them at one time.

How did the situation change after the couple's interactions with wild boars became known?

After their interactions became known, the number of wild boars visiting the elderly couple gradually decreased, leading to concern from the grandfather who noticed the decline in their numbers.

What measures did the grandfather take to address the decreasing number of visiting wild boars?

The grandfather explored the surrounding mountains, discovering that traps and snares had been set up, which were causing the decline in wild boar numbers as they were getting caught and killed.

What is the impact of human intervention on wild animals according to the script?

The script suggests that human intervention, through practices like hunting and setting traps, has significantly disrupted the natural behavior and population of wild animals, including wild boars, causing them unnecessary deaths and altering their behavior patterns.

How did the local government in Yeongyang-gun address the issue of wildlife hunting?

Yeongyang-gun, despite having a larger area than Seoul but only 20,000 residents, has allowed hunting to prevent crop damage from wildlife. The local government observed an increase in reported deer captures due to a reward system, though wild boar reports did not increase similarly.

What was the unintended consequence of incentivizing deer reporting in Yeongyang-gun?

The introduction of a reward system for reporting deer led to a significant increase in reported deer captures, by 14 times, highlighting how financial incentives can impact wildlife management practices.

Why might the reporting of wild boar captures not have increased similarly to deer in Yeongyang-gun?

The lack of a financial incentive for reporting wild boar captures, as opposed to the incentive for deer, likely contributed to the discrepancy in reporting rates between the two species.

What are the ecological implications of using dogs in hunting wild boars?

Using dogs in hunting can severely disrupt wildlife, as they not only track and sometimes directly attack wild boars but also can indiscriminately harm other animals, contributing to unnecessary deaths and ecological imbalance.

How has human disturbance affected the behavior of wildlife according to Dr. Ju Kwang's research?

Dr. Ju Kwang's research indicates that human disturbance significantly alters the behavior patterns of wildlife, such as sables and wild boars, forcing them to become more nocturnal to avoid humans and potentially leading them to abandon their habitats.

What alternative approach has Muju County taken towards managing wildlife populations?

Muju County, which has not allowed hunting for over a decade, focuses on maintaining a natural balance within the ecosystem, suggesting that wildlife populations can regulate themselves without human intervention. They also support affected farmers with compensation and preventative measures like electric fences.