On June 10, the Korea National Park Service, under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, released six long-tailed gorals, a Class I endangered wildlife species in the Republic of Korea, into Songnisan National Park.

The release was carried out to establish a stable population of long-tailed gorals in Songnisan, a key area in the central section of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, and to enhance biodiversity. It was timed to coincide with the season when natural food resources, including fresh shoots and herbaceous vegetation, are abundant, helping the animals adapt more quickly to the wild.

A total of six gorals—two females and four males—were released. Three animals were selected from each of the National Park Wildlife Conservation Center and the Yanggu Goral and Musk Deer Conservation Center based on their good health and high adaptability to the wild.

The Korea National Park Service has been working closely with the Yanggu Goral and Musk Deer Conservation Center to strengthen ecological connectivity for long-tailed gorals along the Baekdudaegan mountain range. The released animals have been fitted with GPS tracking transmitters, and their habitat adaptation and movement patterns will be closely monitored.

Habitat stabilization measures, including the removal of illegal hunting traps, will also be carried out to help the animals settle safely.

The Chairperson of the Korea National Park Service stated, “The long-tailed goral is a flagship species that symbolizes the ecological health of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. We hope this release will contribute to enriching the natural ecosystem of Songnisan National Park. We will also continue to protect goral habitats by actively encouraging visitors to stay on designated trails.”