A member of the Suri Society was fined for killing large numbers of toad tadpoles at Mangwolji, which is the largest toad breeding ground in the country. On the 12th, A (70) was sentenced to a fine of 20 million won for violating the Wildlife Protection and Management Act. The judge stated that A opened the floodgates under the pretense of dredging work and allowed the toad tadpoles to die, even following receiving complaints regarding the building permits near Mangwolji Pond. A had lowered the water level of Mangwol Pond from April 17 to 22 of the previous year, causing 99.9% of the toad tadpoles to die. The investigation revealed that A committed this crime due to dissatisfaction with the restrictions on building permits, which were imposed in the process of promoting the Mangwolji region as an ecological and landscape conservation area.
A fine was sentenced to a representative of the Suri Society who killed toad tadpoles en masse at Mangwolji, Suseong-gu, Daegu, the nation’s largest toad spawning ground.
On the 12th, Chief Judge Lee Young-sook of the 8th Criminal Division of the Daegu District Court sentenced A (70), who was handed over to trial for violating the Wildlife Protection and Management Act, to a fine of 20 million won.
Judge Lee said, “When the defendant did not deal with civil complaints regarding building permits near Mangwolji Pond, he opened the floodgates under the pretext of dredging work and let the toad tadpoles die. He opened the floodgates even following hearing regarding it, damaging wildlife and their habitat.”
Earlier, from April 17 to 22 of last year, Mr. A was charged with lowering the water level of Mangwol Pond by opening the water gate, causing 99.9% of the toad tadpoles to die en masse due to lack of moisture.
It was investigated that Mr. A committed the crime with dissatisfaction when there were restrictions on building permits in the process of promoting the Mangwolji area as an ecological and landscape conservation area designated by the Ministry of Environment.
This verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats. The actions of one person can have a devastating impact on an entire ecosystem, and it is up to all of us to be responsible stewards of the environment. Let us hope that this ruling sets a precedent for future cases and encourages greater respect for the natural world.
