Serious Damage to Livestock Due to Wild Dogs Appearing in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do

In Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, the frequent appearances of wild dog packs are causing significant damage to livestock and threatening the safety of residents.

According to Yeonggwang County, there have been incidents where wild dog packs have invaded farms in the areas of Ma-eupri and Mangokri, attacking livestock.

On the 2nd, a pack of wild dogs killed five goats being raised on a farm. Subsequently, on the 5th, seven goats were harmed in two other farms, and on the 6th and 7th, chickens in coops faced attacks.

In just one week, a total of 14 goats and three chickens have died due to wild dogs across four farms. During these incidents, one farm owner was also injured.

Yeonggwang County has received reports and conducted on-site investigations, determining that seven wild dogs are hunting in packs in the area; however, it has yet to confirm whether they all belong to the same group.

Concerns about the Danger and Spread of Wild Dogs

Yeonggwang County is worried that the attack patterns of these wild dogs may evolve over time.

Initially, they hunt small livestock, but they may eventually target larger animals such as calves, and ultimately attack vulnerable groups such as the elderly, infants, and women, leading to personal injuries.

It is particularly noted that wild dogs that have started killing livestock exhibit very strong aggression.

These packs of wild dogs have been spotted not only in Gunseo-myeon but also throughout areas such as Daema-myeon and Yeonggwang-eup, primarily threatening the safety of residents who jog or walk during dark nights.

In response, Yeonggwang County is actively forming capture teams in collaboration with the police and fire department to catch the wild dogs. They are also capturing stray dogs that may become wild and transferring them to animal protection centers, while simultaneously conducting spay and neuter programs to prevent further population growth.

Trends in Stray Animals and Countermeasures

A Yeonggwang County official stated, "In rural areas, there are many cases where abandoned dogs become wild." He added, "We will promote the importance of not abandoning companion dogs and actively capture stray dogs that have become wild to prevent further incidents."

The number of stray animals in Yeonggwang has been on a consistent rise over the past few years.

In 2022, there were 212 stray animals, which increased to 247 in 2023, and reached 312 last year. The increase in stray animals is exacerbating the wild dog problem.

Yeonggwang County is urging residents to take precautions during nighttime activities while also working to enhance awareness of the responsibilities associated with pet ownership to reduce the occurrence of stray dogs.

Image source: Yeonggwang County, reference image for better understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank, reference image for better understanding of the article / gettyimagesbank