20 endangered Koreanohadra koreana Released after artificial propagation

20 endangered Koreanohadra koreana through artificial propagation were released.

The National Institute of Ecology's Endangered Species Restoration Center, under the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea recently released 20 artificially propagated Koreanohadra koreana in the natural habitat on Hatae Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.

The Koreanohadra koreana is a class II endangered wild species and a native species of South Korea that was first reported in Hong Island, Shinan-gun. In 2019, it was also newly discovered on Hatae Island, one of the islands in Shinan-gun. Hatae Island is located approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Hong Island.

The Endangered Species Restoration Center previously introduced five Koreanohadra koreana from Hong Island in 2018 and successfully artificially propagated them. Then, they conducted the first natural release on Hong Island in July of last year.

This release is the second release following last year and was conducted at Hatae Island on the 31st of last month. Out of a total of 30 Koreanohadra koreana that were additionally introduced and artificially propagated from Hatae Island in 2021, 20 healthy juveniles were selected and released.

The Koreanohadra koreana were released in the beginning of mountainous areas near villages because it is advantageous for consuming calcium, which is essential for snail growth and survival. The National Institute of Ecology explained, "Cement structures or stone walls rich in limestone are necessary calcium sources for Koreanohadra koreana's survival. It's in the same context that snails are often observed on building walls after rainfall."

This part shows the fact that Koreanohadra koreana use the place close to human-inhabited areas their ground of life for survival. This ecological characteristic is also the reasons why Koreanohadra koreana need for greater attention, as they are significantly influenced by human activities.

The 20 Koreanohadra koreanas released this time will be monitored alongside the population of snails on Hong Island to study their distribution characteristics and natural adaptation. The plan is to recapture them using tags attached in the future, determine their survival and growth rates, and analyze threats to their surrounding habitat.

Meanwhile, the Koreanohadra koreana, a endemic species to South Korea, is on the brink of extinction. Its habitat range is extremely limited to certain islands areas in Shinan-gun. As a result, damage to a small population could directly lead to the extinction of the entire species. 

They are threatened by environmental changes due to the climate crisis and the spraying of pesticide such as herbicide, and are sometimes quietly stampeded to death amidst the indifference of visitors to the island.

The National Institute of Ecology stated, “The ecosystem is tightly interconnected like a net. Just as the net becomes gradually weaker when it is broken one by one, the balance of the ecosystem is lost when species disappear one by one.”

They emphasized, "The land snail is also a member of the ecosystem and has the potential as a biological indicator that can represent environmental change. Preserving small creatures that may seem distant from human life is the starting point for protecting biodiversity."