The Ministry of Environment plans to conduct a restoration project of a wild red fox, which has not been identified since a carcass of a male fox was found in Daeamsan, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do in 2004. The project is to be carried out, aiming at making 50 individuals inhabit in the wild for ten years beginning with a pilot project in 2011.
Through the pilot project, an adaptation training field will be built in adjacent areas of Sobaeksan National Park, which has suitable restoration conditions such as inhibiting environment and food in August, 2011. Also, a couple of red foxes will be donated from Seoul Zoo and released on trial in this September or October after going through adaptation training. After that, it is planned to release more than 5 couples to the wild and monitor the changes in the number of individuals.
Following Asiatic black bears and goats, the red fox restoration project is the third restoration project among mammals. As red foxes are faster in delivery and give birth to more babies compared with Asiatic black bears, it is expected that they can be proliferated and restored within comparatively shorter period of time (10years).
Ecological characteristics of fox and Asiatic Black Bear
Division |
Fox |
Asiatic Black Bear |
Average life span |
6∼10yrs.(max. 15yrs.) |
15∼20yrs.(max. 30yrs.) |
Puberty |
9∼11 months |
4 years old |
Delivery |
2 years old |
5 years old |
Number of Individuals born at a time |
4∼6 individuals |
1∼2 individuals |
Survival rate |
50% |
50% |
Home range |
12㎢ |
30∼40㎢ |
Frequently appeared in Korea's folk paintings or traditional fairy tales, red foxes are intimate with Korean people. Also, as they are placed on the upper consumer group in the ecosystem, the restoration project is significant in improving health of natural ecosystem and raising biodiversity.