Seoul Korea - Animal Sanctuaries, Zoos & Wildlife tours.

[G_28]

Hey guys - looking for some advice/ recommendations

I'm in Seoul, South Korea for a short time visiting from Australia. Conversation and wildlife is my passion and I work as a wildlife keeper and volunteer with threaten species in my spare time. So I want to actual go to places with good welfare or sanctuaries and national parks. I keep coming across a lot of 'Petting zoo', straight up concrete zoos and tourist attractions with exotics. It would be amazing to observe some of their natives in their natural habitat.

I was hoping to visit Jirisan National Park but to long to travel.

I think I'll try to visit Seoul Wildlife Center as the website seems to be more my thing but its all in Korean so I'm haven't managed to find out if it is open to visitors.

Any suggestions?

 

[Kim Minwoo]

Well as a Korean, it is very unfortunate that our country does not have a lot of outstanding wildlife sanctuaries, but one place called National Institute of Ecology (Korean: 국립생태원) is a pretty outstanding institute that has an excellent biome themed institute for animals. It is well-known for keeping animals discovered in the airport by illegal pet trade (gibbons, tortoises etc). Also the outdoor area for korean ungulates (Siberian roe deer, Water deer, Long-tailed goral) is pretty much a good place to see. But mainly zoos in korea are somewhat outdated by now, but ongoing constructions are on their way!

 

[YANG Zhuofan]

Well as a Korean, it is very unfortunate that our country does not have a lot of outstanding wildlife sanctuaries, but one place called National Institute of Ecology (Korean: 국립생태원) is a pretty outstanding institute that has an excellent biome themed institute for animals. It is well-known for keeping animals discovered in the airport by illegal pet trade (gibbons, tortoises etc). Also the outdoor area for korean ungulates (Siberian roe deer, Water deer, Long-tailed goral) is pretty much a good place to see. But mainly zoos in korea are somewhat outdated by now, but ongoing constructions are on their way!

Do you know the probability of seeing a long-tailed goral in Seoul Grand Park？I've heard that this animal is not shown to the public.

 

[Kim Minwoo]

Do you know the probability of seeing a long-tailed goral in Seoul Grand Park？I've heard that this animal is not shown to the public.

Well as you have mentioned, they are not shown to public since they are kept at the Conservation Education Center. You can get a glimpse through the hills behind it but still it is hard to see. The best place to see long-tailed goral is the National Institute of Ecology. They have a very large enclosure for deers and gorals native to Korea.

 

[amur leopard]

Do you know the probability of seeing a long-tailed goral in Seoul Grand Park？I've heard that this animal is not shown to the public.

For what it's worth I saw the gorals all four times I went around that way when I visited across two days a year ago - I'd say you've got a pretty good shot. There's also a possibility for the Hill pigeons and Black faced spoonbills from that same sort of viewpoint at that end of the zoo.

 

[YANG Zhuofan]

For what it's worth I saw the gorals all four times I went around that way when I visited across two days a year ago - I'd say you've got a pretty good shot. There's also a possibility for the Hill pigeons and Black faced spoonbills from that same sort of viewpoint at that end of the zoo.

Thank you for reminding me

 

[YANG Zhuofan]

Well as you have mentioned, they are not shown to public since they are kept at the Conservation Education Center. You can get a glimpse through the hills behind it but still it is hard to see. The best place to see long-tailed goral is the National Institute of Ecology. They have a very large enclosure for deers and gorals native to Korea.

Thanks for your answer, looks like it needs to be prepared to wait