1. Reasons for Amendment
The Wildlife Protection and Management Act was amended (Act No. 19088; promulgated on December 13, 2022; to be enforced on December 14, 2023) to introduce a comprehensive wild animal management system for efficient management of matters concerning the export/import of wild animals, etc., restrict wild animal displays in non-zoo facilities, and prescribe obligations during the wild animal transportation process. Accordingly, this Amendment prescribes detailed matters necessary for system operation, newly designates the great cormorant as a harmful wild animal, modifies various forms to facilitate digitalization and ensure efficient operation of the integrated wild animals management system, and addresses and improves upon a number of weaknesses that have emerged from the operation of the current system.
2. Major Provisions
A. Operation of the integrated wild animals management system (Article 5-2)
Prescribe matters (operating entity, planning, etc.) necessary for the operation of the “integrated wild animals management system,” an information system to ensure efficient management of matters concerning wild animal exports and imports, etc.
B. Exceptions to the prohibition of wild animal displays (Article 7-4 and Article 7-5)
Prescribe species and facilities falling under exceptions to the upcoming prohibition (to be enforced on December 14, 2023) of live wild animal displays in facilities that have not obtained permission to operate as a zoo or aquarium.
C. Protection facilities for abandoned or neglected wild animals (Article 7-6)
Prescribe standards necessary for facility operation as grounds to establish protection facilities have been introduced (Wildlife Protection and Management Act amended on December 13, 2022) in preparation against potential abandonment and neglect issues following the transition to a permission system for zoos and the prohibition of wild animal displays in non-zoo facilities.
D. Transportation of wild animals (Article 10 [Table 11])
Prescribe obligations for persons who intend to transport wild animals.
E. Additional designation of harmful wild animals (Article 4 [Table 3])
Designate additional wild animals that harm the life and property of people.
