More Animals, Plants Put on Endangered Species List

The Endangered Species List. Once thought of as the exclusive bastion of the anti-growth American left.

No longer.

The concept of listing extant species as endangered and private property as "critical Habitat" has spread to all corners of the world. Recently the Republic of Korea (South Korea or Han'guk for you locals) Ministry of the Environment officials added 300 species to the republic's endangered species list. The reasons, the same old story -- development and excess hunting. The additions to the list would bring the total to approximately 500 species or 1.67 percent of all species on the southern half of the Korean peninsula.

The Korea Times reports:

The government decided to increase the number of endangered species for protection as an growing number of local species are disappearing from their habitats due to excessive land development and hunting.

About 300 kinds of wildlife, such as the lynx, crested ibis, soft shell turtle and water toad will be designated as endangered or rare species, putting the total number of protected species in South Korea to about 500, the Environment Ministry said yesterday.

"We decided to increase the number of endangered species as new environmental surveys have shown that many kinds of wildlife are on the verge of extinction,"’ said ministry official Son Moo-jo.

"As a result of reckless hunting and damage inflicted on their natural habitats, more and more animals and plants are vanishing,"he said.

The number of endangered species represents 1.67 percent of all the 18,052 types of animals, 8,271 plants and 3,528 microorganisms currently found in the country.

Anyone who seizes endangered species without government authorization is subject to up to five years in prison or a 30 million won fine.

The rest of this all-to-familar tale can be found here.

Open Post Thanks to the Mudville Gazette.