'Galbi Saja' Barami Rescued
"Urgent Need to Relinquish Ownership of Animals"
On February 22, a volunteer group including veterinarians from Cheongju Zoo conducted a health check on the white tiger at Bukyeong Zoo. [Photo by Gimhae City]
At Bugyeong Zoo in Bukyeong, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, the elderly male lion "Barami," known as the "Galbi (Bone) Lion," was rescued, but controversy has arisen as many animals remain unrescued.
Jo Hee-kyung, the representative of Animal Freedom Coalition, explained on MBC's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on the 8th, "This place has continuously had problems because they ran a program where visitors feed the animals without providing enough food beforehand," adding, "Due to operational difficulties, management worsened, causing public outrage known as the 'Galbi Lion Incident.'" Bugyeong Zoo had its zoo registration canceled last year and subsequently received an order to close its wildlife exhibition facilities.
According to Representative Jo, as of March, 13 animals remain at Bugyeong Zoo. She said, "There were 16 animals in January, but one dies every month," and added, "There were two white tigers, but one has already died from a heart condition, and the remaining one is also suffering from the same illness," highlighting the severity of the condition of the remaining animals.
After problems with Bugyeong Zoo's operation were revealed, the Environmental Agency ordered all remaining animals to be relocated by March 19. However, this has not yet been carried out. Representative Jo explained, "There is nowhere to move them. The owner must relinquish ownership for other zoos or protection facilities to provide rescue or care for the animals."
She further explained, "The Bugyeong Zoo owner plans to donate the animals to another zoo, but that place has not yet received building permits. The relocation of the animals is currently uncertain." She added, "The owner also operates another zoo in Daegu, which houses about 250 animals."
The ownership of Barami, the lion involved in the "Galbi Lion" controversy, has not been fully transferred either. Representative Jo said, "Due to the controversy and the offer of help from Cheongju Zoo, the transfer was made, but since ownership has not been transferred, the animal is temporarily under protective custody."
Representative Jo stated, "Zoos cannot be profit-making businesses," and explained, "Public zoos operated by local governments can be improved to maintain basic operations through local government investment, but private zoos have no choice but to operate through animal experience learning programs and animal shows, which involve animal abuse, to secure funding." She emphasized the need for prevention of zoo abuse by saying, "Zoo licensing conditions must be strengthened," and "When problems occur, the zoo should be confiscated to prevent animals from being unmanaged or neglected, establishing necessary standards."
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