2 Siberian tigers transferred to a national arboretum for pasturing

Two Siberian tigers, also called Baekdusan tigers, sent from China have been transferred to the National Arboretum of Baekdu Mountain Range in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, to be set free for grazing. For the first time in 100 years, the howling of tigers will be heard in the woods of the southern parts of the Korean Peninsula.

On Thursday, the Korea Forest Service announced that two male Siberian tigers, each named Duman (born in 2015) and Geumgang (born in 2011), arrived in the tiger woods inside the national arboretum in Bonghwa County. Transfer was a careful operation designed to protect the Siberian tigers known to be highly sensitive. Temperature and humidity were controlled inside the cage, and the transfer car traveled 45 minutes at 70km/h, which was following by regular 15-minute breaks.

Duman and Geumgang were donated by China in 2005 and 2011, respectively. Duman lived in a national arboretum in Gyeonggi Province, and Geumgang in Daejeon Zooland. The two tigers will get training for acclimation at a facility inside the woods in their new home. Later on, they will be sent to the woods and disclosed for public view. The pasture they will be staying in is the largest in the country (48,000 m²), and it will be equipped with a safety fence for tourists.

On the brink of extinction owing to the ruthless poach by the Imperial Japan, Siberian tigers could not be seen in South Korea, with the last one having been witnessed at Mt. Daedeok in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1921. Some 50 Siberian tigers residing in local zoos all come from other countries including China. The Siberian tiger, which is also called the Korean tiger, is the only type of tigers that cannot be found in tropical areas. With the Maritime Province of Siberia being the main region of residence, there are currently about 450 Siberian tigers living across Russia, China, and the borders of North Korea. The forest service of South Korea is planning to bring in three more Siberian tigers in the country.

Hye-Ryung Choi herstory@donga.com