Today Patrick the Panda Reporter learned about some of the vulnerable and protected species in Korea. There are around 100,000 species in Korea but only 30,000 of them are recorded.
Within the national parks there are 15,000 species including 133 out of the 221 species that are considered endangered in Korea. There include birds, plants, reptiles, mammals and fish.
Panda reporter was sad to hear that the Asiatic Black Bear was one of those listed as being vulnerable. It is sometimes known as moon bear or white-chested bear. It is found in the Him alabaster, Russia, Indian sub-continent, Japan, Taiwan and also Korea.
The map shows where they can be found and the areas where they are becoming vulnerable or extinct. Their numbers are reducing because they are being hunted for body parts. Quite often their body parts are used in traditional medicine. They are also being out at risk because their forests are being cut down.
Black bears are good at climbing and walking on its rear legs. One was spotted walking for over a quarter of a mile!
Panda Reporter also had a chance to visit the National War Memorial in Seoul today. He was sad to hear that 1.5 million Koreans died in this conflict in 1950 – 1953. It is incredible to believe that it was only 60 years ago. The City of Seoul was destroyed in the war but is now very highly developed. The South Koreans have worked extremely hard to rebuild their capital city.
