The Korean government's protection measures for the long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus), a Class I endangered wildlife species and natural monument, proved effective in reducing winter mortality between 2024 and 2025.

On October 28, 2024, the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Heritage Service announced the enhanced protection measures for gorals in response to natural disasters such as heavy snowfall caused by abnormal weather and implemented a protection plan by dividing the goral's main habitats into three regions¹⁾. As a result of these efforts, the number of reported goral deaths during the winter season (about five months) returned to the normal level of 31 deaths.

The two organizations operated 80 feeding stations and 22 shelters that provide refuge in the event of heavy snowfall to prevent exhaustion caused by food shortages during winter. These sites offered over 22,000kg of feed including mulberry leaves and mineral blocks to enhance the goral's survival and resilience.

The sites were equipped with observation cameras to monitor goral activity. The observation revealed that the 15 feeding stations in the region of Inje, Goseong, and Sokcho were used around 520 times, and the 30 feeding stations in the region of Uljin and Samcheok were used around 1,200 times from December 2024 to March 2025 and gorals mainly visited the sites at night after 7p.m.

Detailed analyses of goral activities such as the number of gorals per site and usage frequency are currently underway based on the data collected through March 2025. These analyses will be incorporated into the upcoming winter protection measures²⁾ starting in November 2025.

For an early detection of distressed gorals, patrols were significantly increased. In the region of Inje, Goseong, and Sokcho where Seoraksan National Park is located, a special patrol unit was operated, conducting an average of 160 patrols per month from November 2024 to March 2025. In other regions, an average of 70 patrols per month was carried out.

Additionally, 132 banners were installed to encourage the public to report exhausted gorals and to prevent road accidents. The installed LED display boards on the key roads facilitated to raise awareness among local residents and their cooperation on the goral protection.

With these joint actions, only 31 goral deaths were reported during the five-month period (Nov. 2024– Mar. 2025), a 96% decrease from the same period of the previous year (785 deaths from Nov. 2023 – Mar. 2024), which saw extreme snowfall.

※ ① 27 deaths (Nov. 2022 – Mar. 2023), ② 25 deaths (Nov. 2021 – Mar. 2022), ③ 21 deaths (Nov. 2020 – Mar. 2021), ④ 31 deaths (Nov. 2019 – Mar. 2020) (Source: statistics on mortality report by the Korea Heritage Service)