Endangered Species Goral Safely Makes It Through Winter Thanks to Joint Government Protection Measures

The government's measures to protect the long-tailed goral, a Class I endangered wildlife and natural monument, to reduce winter mortality have proven effective during the past winter (2024-2025).

The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wansup) and the Korea Heritage Service (Administrator Choi Eung-chon) announced on October 28, 2024, the ‘Enhanced Protection Measures for Gorals in Preparation for Natural Disasters such as Heavy Snowfall Due to Abnormal Climate,’ and implemented various protective measures by dividing the main habitats of the goral into three zones*. As a result, the organizations reported that the number of goral mortality cases reported over the past winter (approximately five months) has returned to the average level (31 animals).

* Public-private consultative bodies were formed by zone - (Yanggu/Hwacheon), (Inje/Goseong/Sokcho), (Uljin/Samcheok) - with the Korea Heritage Service in charge of Yanggu and Hwacheon, and the Ministry of Environment responsible for the remaining zones, preventing duplication of duties between agencies and implementing preemptive measures such as feeding gorals and strengthening patrols to reduce mortality.

To prevent exhaustion of gorals due to food shortages in winter, the two organizations operated a total of 80 feeding stations and 22 shelters for rest during heavy snowfall*, supplying approximately 22,000 tons of food such as mulberry leaves and minerals (mineral blocks), thereby working to enhance the gorals’ self-sustainability.

* 57 sites (including 20 shelters) in the Yanggu/Hwacheon zone supplied 16,610 kg, 15 sites in the Inje/Goseong/Sokcho zone supplied 1,832 kg, and 30 sites in the Uljin/Samcheok zone supplied 4,008 kg.

The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Heritage Service installed observation cameras at feeding stations to monitor the usage by gorals.

According to the observations, from December 2024 to March 2025, the 15 feeding stations in the Inje/Goseong/Sokcho zone were used approximately 520 times, while the 30 feeding stations in the Uljin/Samcheok zone were used about 1,200 times. The gorals mainly used the stations during nighttime hours (after 7 p.m.) rather than during the day.

※ The number of uses was calculated by excluding duplicate photos of gorals captured by the cameras. However, in the Yanggu/Hwacheon zone, preliminary observations showed that an average of four gorals were using each feeding station, and data such as the number of uses is still under analysis.

A detailed analysis of the goral usage status at feeding stations by zone (number of individuals, usage patterns, etc.) is currently underway based on data collected up to March. The results of the analysis are expected to be reflected* in the winter goral protection measures starting in November of this year.

* The number of individuals and frequency of use at each feeding station will be used to adjust the feeding schedule and timing.

To detect gorals in need of rescue at an early stage, patrols were significantly strengthened. In the Inje/Goseong/Sokcho zone, where Seoraksan National Park is located, a special patrol unit was organized and conducted an average of 160 patrols per month from November 2024 to March 2025. In other zones, an average of about 70 patrols per month was conducted.

In addition, 132 banners were installed to prevent road accidents involving gorals and encourage reports of exhausted gorals, and information was provided through electronic message boards on major roads to promote understanding and cooperation from local residents in protecting the gorals.

As a result of these measures, the number of reported goral deaths over the approximately five-month winter period (Nov. 2024-Mar. 2025) was 31, a decrease of about 96% compared to the same period the previous year (Nov. 2023-Mar. 2024), when 785 deaths were reported due to unusual heavy snowfall. This returned to the average level of winter goral mortality.

* 1)27 animals (Nov. 2022-Mar. 2023), 2)25 animals (Nov. 2021-Mar. 2022), 3)21 animals (Nov. 2020-Mar. 2021), 4)31 animals (Nov. 2019-Mar. 2020) (cited from mortality report statistics of the Korea Heritage Service )

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment is currently conducting a study by partially opening 44 African Swine Fever (ASF) control fences to analyze the impact on the movement of gorals and other wildlife, as well as on the ecosystem.

* Period: May 2024-July 2025, partial openings (44 locations): 10 at Misiryeong, 23 at Hangyeryeong, 11 at other locations

In the second half of this year, a plan will be developed to improve the operation and management of ASF control fences by comprehensively considering factors such as ecosystem fragmentation, quarantine effectiveness, and local resident inconvenience, with the aim of minimizing the impact on gorals.

Kim Tae-oh, Director of the Nature Conservation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “Thanks to public-private cooperation, we achieved remarkable results in goral protection last winter.” He added, “Alongside goral protection measures against climate change impacts such as heavy snowfall, we plan to analyze the effectiveness of opening ASF control fences to establish a rational approach that allows wildlife conservation and quarantine policies to coexist.”

Kim Dong-dae, Director of the Natural Heritage Bureau at the Korea Heritage Service, stated, “We are pleased that the goral protection measures established through inter-agency cooperation have proven to be effective to some extent.” He added, “As abnormal weather due to climate change may occur more frequently in the future, we will continue to devote our full attention and best efforts to ensure that the goral, a natural monument, is well preserved for future generations.”

Attachments 1. Winter Goral Protection Activity Photos.

2. Observation Method of Gorals Using Feeding Stations.

3. Number of Reported Goral Deaths During the Winter Season (Nov. of previous year - Mar. of following year) Over 5 Years. End.

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