About This Project
Seoraksan National Park — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — represents one of South Korea's most dramatic and biologically diverse mountainous regions. Its jagged granite peaks, deep valleys, and high-altitude alpine forests host rare, endemic species that have lived in these peaks for thousands of years. However, rapid infrastructure development, tourism expansion, and historic poaching have severely fragmented wildlife habitats, forcing rare animals into isolated, unsustainable pockets of the park.
The Seoraksan Endangered Species Rescue project, launched by Dasom Saessak Initiative in early 2024, focuses on two key species under critical threat: the Siberian Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus) and the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus). Working alongside mountaineering groups, university researchers, and park rangers, we actively patrol the park, remove illegal snares, track populations via telemetry, and reconnect fragmented corridors.
"High-altitude species in Seoraksan are trapped on biological islands. Reconnecting these valleys is the only way to prevent genetic collapse and guarantee their long-term survival."
— Dr. Park Hye-sook, Director of Wildlife Research, Gangwon Conservation Council
The Challenge
Habitat Fragmentation
Tourist roads, fencing, and hiking trail networks physically partition Seoraksan's valleys, preventing bears and musk deer from migrating safely between winter feeding grounds and summer breeding slopes.
Poaching & Wire Snares
Decades-old illegal wire traps and freshly laid commercial snares continue to litter the park's buffer zones, causing severe injury, limb loss, or death to foraging animals.
Climatic Shifts
Shorter winters and unpredictable snowfall cycles alter alpine vegetation growth patterns, forcing wildlife to venture closer to tourist zones in search of scarce food resources.
Tourism Disturbances
With millions of annual hikers, tourist traffic pushes sensitive, high-altitude animals away from low-stress valley bottoms into steep, treacherous rock faces, increasing mortality rates.
Our Approach
Our conservation methodology combines high-tech biological monitoring with community-driven volunteer field activities to deliver direct, measurable protection on the ground.
Telemetry Collaring & Wildlife Tracking
We equip rescued or monitored bears and musk deer with satellite GPS telemetry collars. This real-time positioning data allows us to identify their movement patterns, map active corridors, and direct conservation patrols to high-risk zones.
Community-Led De-snaring Patrols
We organize monthly volunteer sweeps in partnership with local mountaineering clubs. Teams navigate off-trail buffer zones to detect and dismantle illegal wire snares, logging locations into a public conservation database to trace poaching hotspots.
Ecological Crossings & Lobbying
Using our telemetry maps, we advise national park planners on where to install physical eco-bridges and underpasses, restoring habitat continuity across tourist roads and boundary fences.
Project Timeline & Milestones
Project Launch
MOU signed with Korea National Park Service. Formed the Seoraksan Wildlife Patrol consisting of 120 local climbers and professional trackers.
First Deer Telemetry Success
Successfully collared and released a juvenile male Siberian Musk Deer in Oseok-ri. Data gathered identified two critical bottlenecks in their migration path.
snare sweep clears 1,200 traps
A 3-day sweep by 150 volunteers dismantled 1,210 illegal traps in the park's southern buffer zone, preventing countless wildlife injuries.
Bear Den Monitoring & Eco-Bridges
Currently monitoring three active bear dens using infrared cameras. Lobbying county authorities to allocate funding for an eco-corridor over Route 44.
Permanent Wildlife Sanctuary Status
Our goal is to establish a strictly protected, 1,500-hectare wildlife corridor zone free from hiking trails, fully connecting Seoraksan's inner and outer peaks.
Latest Updates
New Bear Cub Documented in Southern Zone
Our infrared trail cameras captured footage of a healthy Asiatic Black Bear cub exploring alongside its mother. This is the first cub documented in this specific zone in four years. Watch Video →
Spring Snare Clearance: 200 Volunteers Recruited
Our upcoming spring mountain de-snaring drive has reached full registration capacity with 200 volunteers. The patrol will run from March 20 to 22, covering the high-altitude rocky peaks.
Musk Deer Caught on Winter Camera Traps
Despite heavy snowfalls, our telemetry systems tracked two Siberian Musk Deer utilizing the newly insulated shelter zones. Visuals confirm they are in excellent health.