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  Animal suffering in Gyeongbuk wildfires is severe...systemic improvements urgently needed The devastating wildfires in Gyeongbuk Province in March 2025 have left a deep scar not only on humans but also on countless animals. Chained dogs, severely burned cats, and neglected farm animals have been rescued from the fire, but many animals are still waiting for help. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is operating an on-site situation room to assist animals in need of urgent medical care, and the Korea Veterinary Pharmaceutical Association and the Pet Food Association are providing relief supplies to help the affected areas recover. However, the ban on pets in evacuation centers has been a recurring problem, causing pet owners to abandon evacuations and disruptions. The problem of illegal puppy mills has been particularly pronounced in the wildfires. Only a fraction of the more than 100 dogs left behind were able to be rescued due to ownership issues, highlighting ins...

  “Together in the midst of disaster”... A call to institutionalize evacuation with pets The recent wildfires in Andong, Gyeongbuk, have left a deep scar on not only humans but also pets. Animals trapped in the flames without being rescued, and those who survived but were left untreated, revealed how vulnerable our society is in the face of disasters. Especially in rural areas where there are many elderly people, it was difficult for them to evacuate with their pets due to lack of vehicles or transportation, a problem that stems from a lack of social preparedness rather than individual responsibility. Currently, evacuation with pets is not institutionally guaranteed in South Korea during disasters. Many evacuation centers still do not allow animals, and many citizens prioritize their pets' safety over their own, causing them to abandon evacuation or become disorganized. This, in turn, negatively impacts the disaster response system. This is why there is an urgent need to enact the ...

  Pets are also at risk in a fire... Prevention and preparedness are essential Sudden fires pose a deadly threat not only to people, but also to our beloved pets. Smoke inhalation, burns, airway damage, and other hazards can cause your pet to lose their life or suffer serious consequences. Toxic gases in smoke can enter the alveoli and interfere with oxygen exchange, causing respiratory distress and hypoxia. Burns can also damage the skin and nerves, increasing the risk of infection and shock. Airway damage caused by inhaling hot air can also lead to asphyxiation and requires immediate first aid. Preventive measures are essential to protect your pet. You should install smoke detectors, check them regularly, and keep a first aid kit on hand. It's also helpful to have an evacuation plan with family members and post a “pets present” sign on the door. Fires can happen anywhere, anytime. It's important to remember that a little attention and preparation on your part can go a long wa...

Korea's first pet food nutrition standard set... K-Pet Food Era Begins Korea's first 'Pet Food Nutrition Standard' released by the Korea Rural Development Administration is raising the competitiveness of the domestic pet food industry to the next level. The standard provides the minimum recommended levels of essential nutrients needed for pets to live a healthy life and plays an important role in establishing policy and institutional foundations. In particular, the government plans to provide information that clearly distinguishes pet food from livestock food through the 'Pet Food Labeling Standard' to be implemented in 2026. This is expected to increase pet owners' trust and improve the quality of domestic products. At the on-site meeting in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, the head of the Rural Development Administration personally attended to discuss ways to foster the industry, and major domestic manufacturers are actively engaged in joint research proje...

 Endless pet abandonment requires mature awareness Last year, 3,886 stray animals were rescued on Jeju Island, and more than half of them were euthanized. This tragedy occurred as the Jeju Animal Protection Center exceeded its capacity. Fortunately, the number of rescued animals has decreased this year, and the adoption and return rates have also increased. This is thanks to Jeju's proactive policy improvements. The second Animal Protection Center, which will be completed in June, will be able to accommodate an additional 200 animals, which is expected to make a positive difference. However, more facilities are not enough to solve the problem. Responsible behavior and mature awareness on the part of pet owners is paramount. Currently, the registration rate of the animal registration system is only 60-70%, so it is urgent to strengthen the institutional foundation. Policy support and education are needed to help pet owners fulfill their responsibilities and obligations, and to creat...

  U.S. honeybee deaths soar, and grocery store bills could take the hit Beekeepers across the country are sounding the alarm as honeybee populations are dwindling at an unprecedented rate, a trend that could affect Americans' wallets at the grocery store. Honeybees are the backbone of the food ecosystem, pollinating 75% of the world's natural supplies, according to the  National Park Service . But a recent  nationwide survey  by Project Apis m., a nonprofit group that supports beekeeping science, found “catastrophic” honeybee declines across the industry.  Commercial operators reported an average loss of 62% from June to February nationwide. “These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources,” the survey said. Elina L. Niño, who runs the  Bee Health Hub  at the University of California, Davis, said researche...

  Bee Populations Are Declining Faster Than Ever Before The phrase “the birds and the bees” is a story many parents tell their children to deflect the question, “where do babies come from?” And the title of a song by Jewel Akens, “The Birds and the Bees,” written 60 years ago, is about the natural world, flowers, trees, and, of course, birds and bees. These are lovely thoughts to be sure, but unfortunately there are far fewer bees now in the United States, in Europe, and elsewhere, posing serious threats to food security and biodiversity. While the same is largely true for birds, which are also pollinators and in serious decline, the focus here is on bees. In short, their losses are far more damaging than most of us are aware of or think much about. The situation In the United States, in 2025, honeybee colonies will face record-breaking losses, with scientists warning that the impact could be felt in agricultural production. Washington State University entomologists  said ...

US having honey bee crisis: This is what it means for humans, and it is disturbing Turns out,  Meghan Markle ’s passion for beekeeping isn’t much helpful after all, as scientists warn of severe honeybee losses in 2025. What’s happening? Researchers at Washington State University projected that honeybee colonies in the U.S. could decline by up to 70% this year. The university said in a news release that in the past decade, honeybee colony losses have averaged 40% to 50% annually. But as per the release, this year, a combination of nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases, and possible pesticide exposure during the previous pollinating season led to higher losses. Priya Chakrabarti Basu, an assistant professor of  pollinator health  and apiculture at WSU, said in the  news release , "Losses have been increasing steadily. Pollination demands haven’t gone down, so beekeepers face tremendous pressure to keep the same number of colonies to meet those needs...

  Reports of high honey bee colony losses and how farmers and growers can support honey bees Several migratory, commercial beekeeping operations have reported high losses of honey bee colonies. According to a  survey of beekeepers administered by Project  Apis m. , commercial operations reported an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025. These losses are much higher than the  average honey bee losses typically reported by beekeepers , which is typically around 30-50% . U.S. Department of Agriculture and university researchers are processing samples to try to identify causes for the colony losses, but the cause of the higher losses is currently unknown.   At this time, it is not known if or how the large losses of colonies among some beekeeping operations will affect pollination and honey production in Michigan this spring and summer. Many beekeepers split honey bee colonies that are healthy and strong in population in the spring to recuperate fr...