Everland Promotes Wild Release of 'Keungoni Triplets'

Nakdonggang Estuary Eco Center Collaborates with Avian Ecology and Environment Research Institute

Everland, operated by Samsung C&T Resort Division, will release a trio of whooper swan triplets, winter migratory birds designated as Natural Monument No. 201-2, into the wild in cooperation with the Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center and the Avian Ecology and Environment Research Institute.

A swan chick born at Everland in May last year adapting to the wild at Eulsukdo Migratory Bird Park in October of the same year /
[Photo by Everland]

On the 26th, Everland, Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center, and the Avian Ecology and Environment Research Institute signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for Endangered Species Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration" at the Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center in Busan. They agreed to promote mutual cooperation for the whooper swan wild release project and the conservation of endangered species in Korea. About 10 officials attended the signing ceremony, including Jung Dong-hee, Head of the Everland Zootopia Team (Zoo Director), Seo Jin-won, Director of Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center, and Park Hee-cheon, Director of the Avian Ecology and Environment Research Institute.

Everland, Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center, and the Avian Ecology and Environment Research Institute will synergize to conduct effective species conservation activities. The whooper swan triplets named Bom, Yeoreum, and Gaeul, born at Everland last June, are being protected and managed at Eulsukdo Migratory Bird Park. The movement paths of the triplets equipped with GPS devices will be analyzed to assist them in joining wild whooper swan flocks during winter.

The whooper swan triplets, the main subjects of this project, are offspring of Nalgae and Nakdong, a pair that was separated from their flock due to injury in 1996, making their return to the wild especially meaningful. After staying at Everland for over 20 years following their injury, Nalgae and Nakdong began raising offspring in 2020 under the care of veterinarians and zookeepers. Known as swans, whooper swans only stay in Korea during winter and spend summers in Russia and Siberia, where they breed.

Last year, Nalgae and Nakdong had quadruplets named Bom, Yeoreum, Gaeul, and Gyeoul. Gyeoul, who was congenitally unhealthy, was excluded from the release list. The remaining triplets have been residing at Eulsukdo Migratory Bird Park since October last year and have adapted healthily enough to travel up to about 60 kilometers. They are currently awaiting the return of wild whooper swan flocks around November.

Zoo Director Jung Dong-hee said, "If whooper swans born in the zoo can mingle with wild flocks and even breed, it will greatly contribute to the conservation of whooper swans," adding, "If we can track detailed movement paths via GPS, it will be very helpful for whooper swan ecological research."