The highly-armed DMZ separating North and South Korea has now become a haven for wildlife. The barren and isolated region, devoid of human activity is helping wildlife in the region.
Armed DMZ, now a wildlife refuge
Between North and South Korea lies the infamous demilitarized zone (DMZ). The 160-mile region is one of the most heavily armed borders in the world and is locked away with landmines and fences. Despite being a sad symbol of the Korean war and division, the region is now thriving with wildlife. Google’s recently released street view images on the region offer a rare look into the fauna and flora in the no man’s land. It showcases images of over 6,100 species thriving on the border. As per Google. 38 percent of Korea’s 267 endangered species habitat in the DMZ.
The images were released to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean Warm arm site. The images are part of a collaboration with several Korean institutions. Additionally, the project provides a “virtual tour” using Google street view. “After the Korean War, the DMZ had minimal human interference for over 70 years, and the damaged nature recovered on its own. As a result, it built up a new ecosystem not seen around the cities and has become a wildlife sanctuary,” reveals the website.
More on the wildlife inhabiting the DMZ region
The inhabitants of the DMZ include a wide range of animals such as the mountain goats in the rocky regions, musk deers, otters, and the infamous golden eagles. For the first time in two decades, cameras installed in the region capture an image of a young Asiatic back bear cub. South Korea’s National Institute of Ecology installed cameras in the DMZ to gain a look into the animals in the region. The institute was concerned about the decline of endangered species due to habitat destruction and poaching.
Several voices across the world are calling for the conservation of species in the region. However, the process is not easy as it requires cooperation from both North and South Korea. There was some progress in 2018 and 2019 on turning the DMZ into a “peace zone”. However, the efforts were futile. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated and tensions have been skyrocketing since last year as Pyongyang launched several missiles.
