Animal Exchange Program: Asiatic Black Bear From North Korea Dies

The female Asiatic black bear pair from North Korea which was brought to South in 1999 because of the first inter-Korean animal exchange program.

The bear was named "Eutteumi" and believed to be 20 years of age. The animal which is also known as "half-moon bear" was sent by the Central Zoo in Pyongyang to the South Korean park along with red foxes, silver foxes, and tigers.

A wild Asiatic bear is known to live up to 25 years. It has a coat of smooth black fur and can be distinguished by a V of white fur on its chest. It is similar in appearance to the brown bear, but with a slighter build.

The exchange program between South Korea and North Korea aimed to conserve indigenous animals at the Korean Peninsula.

Eutteumi was blind and malnourished but she still managed to give birth to six cubs, two each in the years 2006, 2009 and 2011.

As part of the Asiatic black bear restoration project, five of the six cubs were released at the Mount Jiri in southern part of Korea.

According to the South Korean park, Eutteumi showed strong mothering abilities and maternal affection. It was meaningful for her to raise her offspring for herself in spite of her disability.

However, the male Asiatic black bear named Dandani died last December 2012. Dandani came from the North Korea together with Eutteumi.

Since June this year, Eutteumi has been experiencing epileptic seizures that gave signs of her depleting health. However, the South Korean park is still investigating the cause of her death.

Moreover, there are threats for Asiatic black bear that includes illegal hunting of their body parts particularly, the gall bladder, paws and skin which poses the main threat. Another threat is habitat loss caused by logging and due to expansion of human settlements and roads.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) works to conserve habitat and protect endangered species such as the Asiatic black bear from illegal hunting. Its goal is to stop illegal hunting and encourage local communities to protect the habitat of the Asiatic Black bear.