"Gyeongbuk Yeongju, where they said 'I saw a crocodile'... now a 'leopard has appeared'"

Strange Animal Tracks Found, Reported to Environmental Group
Wildlife Protection Association Official: "Estimated 30-40kg Leopard"

Animal footprints presumed to be those of a leopard were discovered in a vegetable field in Sangmang-dong, Yeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, prompting wildlife protection organizations to conduct an on-site investigation.

Park (49), a local resident, found unusual animal footprints in his soybean field in Sangmang-dong on the 24th. An environmental group, commissioned by Park, judged the footprints to resemble those of a leopard and reported the finding to the Dongbu Police Substation of Yeongju Police Station.

Footprints found at the site investigation [Photo provided by Yeongju City]

A representative from the Wildlife Protection Association stated, "The footprints are about half the size of those found 2 to 3 years ago, but judging by the size and depth of the prints, the animal is estimated to weigh 30 to 40 kg and measure 70 to 80 cm, resembling a leopard."

In fact, adult leopards have paw sizes of 15 to 20 cm and stride lengths of 70 to 80 cm, while tigers have paw sizes of 20 to 25 cm, stride lengths of 120 to 150 cm, and weigh between 250 and 300 kg.

A Yeongju Fire Station official said, "We inspected the site following a resident's report," adding, "The footprints are aligned in a row, suggesting a feline species," and noted, "The exact identification will be confirmed after expert investigation."

Yeongju City submitted photos of the discovered animal footprints to the Daegu Regional Environmental Office and has begun verification efforts. Together with the National Institute of Biological Resources and the Wildlife Protection Association, they plan to conduct an on-site inspection next week.

The leopard is a mammal belonging to the family Felidae, genus Panthera, distributed across the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, and Russia. The Korean leopard is currently classified as endangered.

This is not the first time a rare animal has been found in Yeongju. On the afternoon of the 13th, around 6 p.m., an exotic wild animal presumed to be a crocodile was spotted near Museomgyo Bridge in Munsu-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongbuk. Yeongju city officials have been conducting capture operations as of the 26th. While searching for this crocodile, a Korean leopard cat, a Ministry of Environment-designated endangered species, was discovered on the 5th.