○ The Gyeonggi Wildlife Rescue Center, located in Dongcheon-ri of Pyeongtaek City, will open the ‘Gyeonggi Wildlife School’ in the first half of 2022.
– Construction began in June 2020 and was completed on November 20, 2021, through a budget of KRW 10.5 billion
– Will feature Wildlife Education Center, Wildlife Conservation Center, parking lot and lounge

○ Education on coexistence of humans and wildlife to be provided to children and adolescents, promoting respect for life

The ‘Gyeonggi Wildlife School’ will open in the first half of 2022 and serve as a new facility for education on ecosystems, leading to ‘the creation of a culture in which humans and wildlife coexist.’

On December 28, an official of Gyeonggi Province explained that the Gyeonggi Wildlife School is intended to provide future generations with educational and experiential opportunities pertaining to natural ecosystems, helping them cultivate a sense of respect for life.

The school has been constructed on a 38,198-square-meter site inside the Gyeonggi Wildlife Rescue Center located at 57, Dongcheon-ri, Jinwi-myeon, Pyeongtaek City, with a budget of KRW 10.5 billion (national funding of KRW 2.8 billion and provincial funding of KRW 7.7 billion).

Construction began in June 2020 and was completed on November 20, 2021. The Gyeonggi Wildlife School is currently preparing its educational and experiential spaces. Once all is completed, it will begin operating from the first half of 2022.

Wild animals rescued and treated by the Gyeonggi Wildlife Rescue Center that have the potential to return to the wild will be sent to the Gyeonggi Wildlife School for rehabilitation, while permanently disabled animals will be protected by the school.

In addition, the Gyeonggi Wildlife School will provide a wide range of educational and experiential programs for children and adolescents through which they can cultivate maturity, respect for life and an understanding of the importance of conserving natural ecosystems.

The school will avoid displaying animals like zoo exhibits, and instead promote the importance of conserving wildlife while providing opportunities to interact with nature.

In addition, it will collect data on how wild animals adapt and carry out basic studies pertaining to their overall life cycles including feeding, breeding and socializing activities.

Accordingly, the ‘Wildlife Education Center’ will be set up inside the Gyeonggi Wildlife School to provide educational and experiential activities related to natural ecosystems, while the ‘Animal Protection Center’ and ‘Ecosystem Observation Deck’ will be established outside the school to protect and rehabilitate wild animals.

In addition, the Gyeonggi Wildlife School will feature various amenities such as a lounge and parking lot.

The school will contribute to protecting endangered animals and achieving equilibrium in ecosystems by conserving and managing wild animal habitats in a systematic manner. It aims to become a major facility for ecosystem education in the Korean capital region where animals and humans coexist.

Lee Eun-gyeong, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Animal Protection Division, said, “The diversity of wild animals and natural habitats is continuously shrinking due to habitat destruction, climate change and environmental pollution. Thus, we will strive to conserve natural ecosystems by raising public awareness of biodiversity and creating a culture in which humans and wild animals can coexist.”