Only 120 in Korea… Why did the ‘fox’ disappear?

The Ministry of Environment selected the fox as the endangered wildlife species of September.

According to the Ministry of Environment on the 1st, there are about 120 foxes living across the country, centered around Mt. Sobaek, including two second-generation foxes born in the wild.

Foxes were once common throughout the country, but have been designated as a Class 1 endangered species since 1995.

The cause of the rapid decline in the fox population is indiscriminate hunting and secondary poisoning from rat poison in the 1970s. The analysis is that foxes disappeared from sight in the 1980s after there were successive cases of foxes dying from rat poisoning after eating rats that had been poisoned.

In 2004, a dead individual was found in Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do, confirming the possibility of its habitat. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment and the National Park Service began a full-scale restoration project in 2012, focusing on Mt. Sobaek, a suitable fox habitat. The Ministry of Environment estimated that there are currently about 120 living nationwide.

The foxes living in our country have thin mouths and noses, large ears, long and thin legs, and long, thick tails with lots of fur.

Foxes are often portrayed as threatening beings in fairy tales and dramas, but in reality, they are unlikely to cause harm to humans if encountered. Above all, they avoid humans, so encounters with them are rare.

An official from the Ministry of Environment said, “If you find a fox, do not feed it or approach it, but rather quietly leave the area.” He added, “If you find a fox that has been injured or needs emergency rescue, please report it to the Central Conservation Center of the National Park Wildlife Conservation Institute.”

Meanwhile, information on endangered wild animals such as foxes can be found on the websites of the National Institute of Biological Resources and the National Institute of Ecology.

Reporter Kwon Na-yeon kny0621@nongmin.com