Everland Korean Tiger Quintuplets' Youngest Dies from Airway Obstruction While Eating

Everland has revealed the images of baby tigers Areum (♀), Daun (♂), Woori (♀), Nara (♂), and Gangsan (♀) living in the snow-covered Tiger Valley ahead of the Year of the Tiger, Im In Year (壬寅年) 2022. On the 21st, at Everland's Tiger Valley in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, mother tiger Geon-gon and the baby tigers are taking a walk. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Among the five Korean tigers born through natural breeding at Everland, one tragically died due to airway obstruction while eating.

Everland announced on the 9th through its homepage that the youngest sibling, Gangsan, passed away around 6 p.m. on the 8th.

Gangsan was the youngest female among five siblings (Areum, Daun, Uri, Nara, Gangsan) born on June 27 last year at Everland to Korean tiger parents Taeho (father) and Geongon (mother).

On the day of death, Gangsan entered the indoor animal house from the enclosure at 5 p.m., ate beef, and then showed signs of sluggish movement. A caretaker who noticed this separated her from the other tigers and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but she ultimately passed away.

Everland veterinarians conducted an autopsy on Gangsan and sent the autopsy report and video to Professor Kim Daeyong of the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine. Professor Kim confirmed that the cause of death was respiratory distress due to acute airway obstruction during food intake.

Everland stated, "We are making various efforts such as natural rearing and environmental improvements to provide the best ecological conditions for the animals," adding, "We are very saddened and heartbroken by the unexpected situation that occurred with the naturally reared tiger family."

Everland has designated a three-day official mourning period until the 11th and plans to set up a memorial space for Gangsan in some areas such as Tiger Valley and on social media platforms. Some of the tiger-related content introduced from the 1st to celebrate the Year of the Tiger will also be adjusted.