사라진 먹황새 복원한다…아기 새 10마리 몽골서 번식

The cranes once thought to be extinct in South Korea may be making a return, as the country is set to reintroduce the endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. In an effort to achieve this, South Korea and Mongolia have signed a memorandum of understanding, targeting the completion of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper restoration project by the second half of next year.

The National Ecological Center, under the Ministry of Environment, recently collaborated with the Wildlife Conservation and Science Center of Mongolia (WSCC) to conduct a study on the species' breeding status and distribution. Following the investigation, the team discovered seven nests and ten juvenile Spoon-billed Sandpipers, confirming their potential for stable reproduction.

The birds, known for their 90-100 cm length and distinctive black, green, and purple plumage, are classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. With this newfound momentum, the restoration process is expected to kick off in the second half of the year, subject to scientific review and the completion of necessary permits.