A short piece I wrote about the local zoo...

Breathtaking images and footage, products of decade-long research, along with top animal care facilities in major cities all over the world have introduced a new educational standard for animal awareness, animal habit and human interaction. Zoos, such as the one in Seoul, Everland’s Zootopia, are continuing to develop innovative enclosures that enhance the view of the onlooker as well as provide a safe and natural environment for the animals themselves. Despite the progress and improvement in the major metropolitan cities and among the general population of the modern world, there remain many institutions across the globe that far fall below the new minimum standard of animal protection.

Unfortunately a prime example of unacceptable animal treatment resides within Gwangju. Kumho Resort’s Woochi Park, near Ilguk Dong boasts over 50 enclosure and more than 100 species of animals including elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, bears and other classic residence of typical zoos. However, despite well intentions it is an abysmal residence, home of many abused and maltreated animals. From the scar laced bodies of the hyenas and jaguars to the oozing, raspberry-layered calluses of the baboons to the forlorn face of the lone Dalmatian, the mini-zoo serves more as a depressing reminder of animal cruelty than a functional, educational facility.




According to Kim Hong Moon, full-time staff at Kumho Resort, Woochi Park and FamilyLand have been financially stressed due to a worsening economy and an H1N1 conscious community. Also, for Woochi Park, at an entrance fee of only 1,500 Won, the resources to support the animals let alone renovate or improve the facility must be fairly, if not impossibly, difficult. While Woochi Park has had some success with elephant rides (5,000 Won for ten-minutes) and elephant feedings (2,000 Won for a bag of carrots), the monetary struggle is physically obvious upon first setting foot in the premises. Like a long abandon theme park, many of the enclosures display over-used and under-maintained features. Many of the water areas for animals such as seals, hippos, and penguins including the arboretum are either at extremely low levels or completely empty. Organic materials, as simple as dirt, grass or trees, are non-existent, save for seven enclosures. The simple irony of the wolf enclosure situated next to sheep, contributes to Woochi Park’s shameful exhibition of animals. The general poor health and mood of the animals is clearly evident. Limited ventilation provides a very repulsive stench to the areas as well. According to multiple foreigner interviews Woochi Park is very depressing to the western viewer.




However, while the responsibility for the condition of the animals ultimately rests with the park, the visitors’ display of the same disconcert for the animals’ well-being is as depressing as those who built the ill wrought cages themselves. On a moment-by-moment basis the malnourished animals greedily accept food from visitors. Baboons eagerly choke down stale popcorn and chimpanzee battle to soften the dried squid, meanwhile, the health of the animal are being compromised by the influence of non-natural feed. At all modern parks this type of behavior is not tolerated. Shockingly, this behavior is not only demonstrated by children or adolescents, but by parents with their eager, supple-minded toddlers in tow.

Woochi Park may be amusing for those who disregard the condition and well-being of animals, however, it serves as a truly sad image of reality where good intentions and ill planning intersect with underfunding and poor execution. This, in turn, is also breathtaking.