"This is the first time globally"... 200 Mandarin Ducks Gathered at Jungnangcheon

Natural Monument Mandarin Ducks, About 20,000 Left Worldwide
200 Gather Near Yongbigyo Bridge on Jungnangcheon Stream
Also Gained Attention After Being Found in New York Central Park

A large group of mandarin ducks, a natural monument, has appeared near Jungnangcheon in Seoul, attracting attention.

According to Seongdong-gu Office in Seoul on the 17th, a flock of mandarin ducks was found near the Yongbi Bridge rest area within the Jungnangcheon area. Jung Won-oh, the mayor of Seongdong-gu, posted on social media on the 16th to announce the news of the mandarin ducks settling in Jungnangcheon.

Mandarin ducks appearing in Jungnangcheon.
[Image provided by Seongdong-gu Office]

On that day, Mayor Jung wrote, "I received a message from Dr. Yoon Moobu, affectionately known as the 'Bird Doctor,' that a flock of mandarin ducks, designated as a natural monument, appeared near the Yongbi rest area under Yongbi Bridge in Jungnangcheon," adding, "It is truly delightful that mandarin ducks, symbols of harmony and love, have gathered in Seongdong-gu."

Dr. Yoon, who discovered the flock of mandarin ducks in Jungnangcheon, said, "While I have seen one or two mandarin ducks in Seoul in the past, this is the first time in the world that about 200 have appeared collectively," and added, "I want to raise awareness of how rare and beautiful the mandarin ducks visiting under Yongbi Bridge are."

Mandarin ducks, designated as Natural Monument No. 327, belong to the genus Aix in the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. They mainly inhabit mountainous valleys, rivers, and reservoirs, with about 20,000 remaining worldwide. A distinctive feature is that a male and female pair always live together, often symbolizing a harmonious married couple.

Primarily Inhabiting East Asia... Drawing Visitors from New York

Mandarin ducks that appeared in New York in 2018. [Image source: 'Manhattan Bird Alert' X (Twitter) capture]

Mandarin ducks, which mainly inhabit East Asia including Korea and Japan, as well as some European countries, also made headlines in 2018 when one unexpectedly appeared in an unusual location. A male mandarin duck appeared in the duck pond southeast of Central Park in New York City. The news spread through 'Manhattan Bird Alert,' operated by bird watchers on X (formerly Twitter).

The rare and beautiful appearance of the mandarin duck was enough to capture the interest of New Yorkers. Central Park was crowded with people coming to see the mandarin duck in person, and international media highlighted it as a 'rockstar duck.' Authorities stated that the duck was "not an escaped species from a nearby zoo, and it is possible that someone released it after keeping it as a pet."