Endangered species and other animals thriving in a former warzone
Edited by Lianne Lee
Photo from BBC
The Korean Demilitarized zone, or the DMZ for short, is the border between North and South Korea and was formerly known as the cease-fire line between the two countries during the Korean war in the early 1950s. The line was established on the 27th of July 1953, but before its truce, it was once a warzone for fighting off the invasion of the North into the South. However, this dark history has been masked by a flourishing ecosystem, covering the land with lush vegetation and a diverse cast of reptiles, mammals, and birds.
The DMZ spans across the entire North Korean border with South Korea and is roughly 4 kilometres in width, making it 907 square kilometres in size. This area is now home to over 6,200 species of wildlife, ranging from mountain goats to even some endangered species, such as the golden eagle. Even the Asiatic black bear, which has not been spotted in over 20 years, has returned to the DMZ. This area is not open to the public but is visited frequently by agency-led tours.
Due to the lack of exposure to human contact, it has also become a migratory area for animals from both North and South Korea. Their declining forests and vegetation for urbanisation have led many birds to join the DMZ ecosystem, making it a sanctuary for all animals.
The DMZ has not only become an “accidental paradise” for wildlife but has also brought out and nurtured species close to extinction, allowing them another opportunity to thrive and live for generations to come.
APA Bibliography
https://news.yahoo.com/koreas-dmz-once-bloodshed-scene-085307677.html
https://www.britannica.com/place/demilitarized-zone-Korean-peninsula
