Residents of Anmado, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeonnam, File Collective Complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission
Desecration of Graves and Consumption of Sweet Potatoes
When you take a boat into Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, there is Anmado Island, home to about 140 residents. On this island, deer outnumber the residents and act as if they own the place.
Known as the so-called "Deer Island," the estimated deer population on Anmado exceeds 500. Island residents, fed up with the deer eating crops and damaging forests, filed a collective complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. In a government-conducted survey, 60% responded with "Let's shoot them with guns."
The deer are believed to have first settled on Anmado in the 1980s. At that time, a livestock farmer raised about 10 deer to obtain antlers but abandoned them, leading to an increase in the population and their becoming wild. Currently, no one takes care of the deer or claims ownership.
The deer living here now are good swimmers and reproduce vigorously, establishing new habitats on nearby islands. Including the surrounding islands, about 1,000 deer have been left unattended.
Residents pointed out that the deer have dug up graves and devastated the mountains to the point that the entire island is eroded. While they do not directly attack people, residents also complained that the deer eat all the crops such as chili peppers, sweet potatoes, garlic, and sesame.
Currently, it is not easy to catch the deer recklessly. Under current law, deer are classified as "livestock," so they cannot be caught without being designated as harmful wild animals.
In response, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission began discussions with related agencies. Opinions during the discussions included "The government should step in, such as by designating Anmado deer as harmful wild animals," and "Livestock farmers should resolve the issue autonomously."
However, if the government designates the deer as harmful wild animals, capturing them using firearms would become possible. Because of this, some questioned whether it is right to kill the deer over a problem that started due to human negligence.
Subsequently, the Commission sought public opinion. In a survey with 4,645 participants, 69.9% (3,245 people) agreed that the long-neglected Anmado deer should be considered wild animals. Regarding the claim that "wild livestock causing damage should be included as wild animals in certain areas," 72.8% (3,383 people) supported it. A majority of respondents favored capturing the deer. Additionally, 83% supported strengthening penalties for those who abandon livestock without permission.
Other opinions included "Utilize them as a tourism resource" and "Widely publicize the issue to raise awareness of its seriousness." Based on the collected opinions, the Commission plans to initiate institutional improvements in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Yeonggwang County.
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