Professor Han Jae-ik, Head of Jeonbuk Wildlife Center

Over the door decorated with adorable animal magnets, Professor Han welcomed JBNU Globe reporters. In the lab, numerous name tags hung on a hanger which seem to prove how Professor Han worked hard in his field.

We took up the conversation from the recent marten case. Professor Han successfully cured and released a marten which is Endangered Species Level II. It was rescued and transferred from a traffic accident to Jeonbuk Wildlife Center. Professor Han said, “as normal of traffic accident cases, the marten had severe head injury. It was nearly unconscious, there was no response of any stimulation.” Furthermore, through X-ray examination, he found that marten severely injured its lungs. There are abrasions, bruises, and pelvis fracture as well. Professor Han added, “there was no hope to revive because of the severe head injury. However, hopefully, emergency treatment worked on it. Thus, it can recover and go back to nature.”

Jeonbuk Wildlife Center

Jeonbuk Wildlife Center was launched in 2009. It has been funded by the Ministry of Environment and Jeollabuk-do. Every single year, Jeonbuk Wildlife Center cures more than 1,000 animals which are double of Jeonbuk Animal Medical Center cures. Basically, the national wildlife centers conduct task of rescue, cure, and release. Especially, Jeonbuk Wildlife Center located in JBNU takes a role of education. Not only College of Veterinary Medicine students but also students interested in animals can learn and participate in a program held by Jeonbuk Wildlife Center. Furthermore, Jeonbuk Wildlife Center conducts significant roles to research and build database how to diagnose or use medicine toward wildlife.

When we heard the tale of marten, some questions got stuck in our head. “Even if professor is an expert of wildlife, it would be impossible to know all characteristics of infinite species. How can the professor diagnose and cure unacquainted species?” Professor answered, “as you said, we cannot know all about every species. Wildlife covers from animals in wild to animals in zoos and houses such as parrot and hedgehog. However, In the College of Veterinary Medicine, we only learn about dog and cat as specimens of small animals, cow pig, cow, horse as specimens of medium, large animals. We modify and apply based on the specimen animals.”

In media, vet is described as a great animal lover. Thus, we asked, “do you have memorable cases or special case since you have been working as a vet?” The answer was “yes, too many.” It was predictable; however, the next sentence was surprising. “I am trying to give less affection to animals.” Opening the album he continued, “I recorded every case as possible as I could. However, more human express affections, the harder animals settle in wildlife. If animals could not adapt in wildlife, they become as euthanasia object. Therefore I give less affection to animals than before.”

When Professor Han entered the college of veterinary medicine, he vaguely dreamt of becoming a vet who treats wildlife in Africa just like many other veterinary students at that time. He had an opportunity to treat wildlife when he was studying for a master’s degree, which led him towards wild animals for the rest of his life.

Professor Han became a board member of ASCM (Asian Society of Conservation Medicine) since 2015, which certifies him as one of the only four veterinary specialists on wildlife in South Korea. ASCM is a non-governmental organization which aims to improve conservation medicine and advance the field’s level in Asia. To become a board member of the organization, the candidates must pass through the documentation to verify that the one have met certain qualifications, and then take two types of examinations; written and oral. This whole process of decision takes about eight months.

The water deer are one of the most common wildlife in South Korea. Though they are not very welcomed in the country as farm houses are suffering due to crop destruction they commit. For this reason, the water deer are designated as a harmful wild animal by the Korean Ministry of Environment, which even makes it legal for some people to capture and kill them. However, the surprising fact is that they are one of the endangered species around the world.

Professor Han says that the reason why wild animals like water deer became a big headache in-country is partly because of humans’ fault. First of all, humans eliminated the predator that can control the popularity of water deer in Korea. The population of the wild boar, another harmful wild animal, is also out of control for the same reason. Secondly, people indiscreetly construct roads everywhere and develop nature for their convenience. This invades wild animals’ habitat so that they cannot help but appear near the cities.

Government organizations are working on controlling the population of those harmful wild animals, but it is not easy because their birth rate is higher than the death rate. Professor Han said again, “it’s all humans who asked for the trouble eventually.”

In his last words, Professor Han informed some tips for the situation we encounter the wild animals while camping, climbing, or driving. “It is best not to mess around with them if they are healthy,” he said.

In South Korea, most of the wild animals are not so aggressive as to harm people. Exceptions are predators like marten and badger, or boar. If you run into a boar, you’d better run away as fast as you can. If you see a still raccoon dog, you shouldn’t get near it. It might seem to be meek in appearance, but actually, it is looking for the right timing to attack you. If a water deer meets a car, it won’t run away but just stop still and pretend they are not to be there. It’s a habit of members of the deer family, so it’ll be good for you to honk the horn to avoid a car accident.

However, if the wild animal seems to be in distress or hurt, you should call the local wildlife center (Jeonbuk Wildlife Center: 063)850-0983) for help. Be careful not to touch it with bare hands. It might die of shock or attack you to resist, and you can’t also exclude the possibility of it carrying contagious viruses. Plus, if you encounter with baby animals, think once more before calling for help. Their parents might be around, hiding from people.

Lee Won-jun Reporter, Kim Eun-ji Cub-Reporter