The zebra ‘Sero’ escaped from Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the 23rd and wandered around the downtown residential area. The incident became a hot topic on social media, with many people finding it amusing, but others criticizing the zoo’s safety measures. Lee Hyeong-joo, CEO of the Animal Welfare Research Center, called for a thorough inspection of zoo facilities and pointed out that the stress management of animals has become more difficult due to increased visitor numbers. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the suitability of zoos for wild animals, and some experts suggest gradually reducing the number of such species. Cheongju Zoo found a way to relieve isolation without increasing the number of zebras by combining them with a mini horse.
A zebra that escaped from Seoul Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul around 2:50 pm on the 23rd is wandering around the downtown residential area. Twitter capture
“Dad, the zebra must be resting inside.” “It seems like everyone came to see ‘Sero’!”
On the weekend of the 25th, at 3:00 pm, Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul was crowded with people looking for ‘Sero’, a zebra who had escaped from the zoo. Parents pulling baby carriages, couples arm in arm, and children holding character-shaped balloons filled the passage. The entrance to the herbivore breeding ground where the zebra ‘Sero’ escaped two days ago was restricted from entry with a sign saying ‘Sero is resting in the inner room’.
On the 23rd, a zebra raised in Children’s Grand Park escaped from the pen and roamed the streets for a while. The story of this zebra with the name ‘Sero’ became a hot topic on social media. As can be seen from the reactions on social media such as “losing parents and starting to rebel” and “fighting with kangaroos and running away”, this commotion was seen as a ‘jolly deviation’ or ‘cute skit’ by a zebra.
However, many point out that the zoo’s insensitivity to safety is clearly revealed, and that the facility should be thoroughly inspected. Some say that the number of zebras should be reduced because they are not suitable for breeding in zoos.
On the 26th, Lee Hyeong-joo, CEO of the Animal Welfare Research Center, AWARE, said, “Fortunately, there were no casualties and no zebras were injured, so it ended in a warm atmosphere. It is very unconventional,” he said.
On the 26th, on the 26th, three days following the zebra Cerro escaped from the zoo and returned to Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, a sign saying ‘Zebra Cerro is resting in the inner room’ is attached to the herbivore fence. Reporter Han Soo-bin
He continued, “We should use this as an opportunity to check whether the zoo is equipped with facilities that can handle the current animals.” The ‘Zoo Aquarium Act’ passed by the National Assembly in November last year contains the contents of changing the zoo registration system to a permit system. In the registration system, a zoo might be operated if it met a certain size, but in the permit system, it was necessary to meet the habitat environment requirements for each animal species. Zoos that have already been registered must meet the licensing criteria within six years.
There is also an analysis that the stress management of animals has become more difficult as the number of visits to the zoo has surged with the complete lifting of the Corona 19 distancing. The number of visitors to Seoul Children’s Grand Park decreased from 6,392,836 in 2019, before Corona 19, to 5,393,378 in 2020, following Corona 19. Then, with 6,272,853 in 2021 and 6,626,479 in 2022, the number of visitors exceeded the previous number. An official from Children’s Grand Park said, “As the recovery from Corona 19 accelerates and the obligation to wear a mask is lifted, the number of visitors is surpassing the number of visitors before Corona 19.”
Representative Lee said, “It is difficult to know exactly whether it affected the zebra’s escape, but it is natural that the stress of the animals in the zoo increases as the number of visitors increases.” The stress of viewing is unavoidable.”
On the 26th, on the 26th, three days following the zebra Cerro escaped from the zoo and returned to Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, a sign saying ‘Zebra Cerro is resting in the inner room’ is attached to the herbivore fence. Reporter Han Soo-bin
The Children’s Grand Park said they would bring a female zebra sometime next year so that the zebra ‘Sero’ would not be lonely, but there are also opinions that this is inappropriate. It is said that zoos are gradually reducing the number of wild animals that are not suitable for the climate of the Korean Peninsula.
Veterinarian Choi Tae-gyu, CEO of the Bear Nest Project, said, “If it is not an endangered species, the zoo should gradually reduce its population. There is a problem with the number increasing,” he said.
Cheongju Zoo, where the zebra Hani came out of the fence in August 2020, found a way to relieve isolation without increasing the number of zebras. Kim Jeong-ho, a veterinarian at Cheongju Zoo, said, “At the time, ‘Hani’ was suddenly alone and felt stressed, but she did not bring additional horses to avoid increasing the number of wild animals overseas. Although they are of different species, we chose to combine them with a mini horse.”
In conclusion, the recent escape of ‘Sero’ the zebra from Children’s Grand Park in Seoul has sparked discussions regarding the safety and well-being of animals in zoos, particularly as visitor numbers surge with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. While some have found the incident to be a lighthearted diversion, others have pointed out the need for zoos to take greater precautions and reduce the number of wild animals they keep. As the country transitions to a permit system for zoo operation, it is hoped that greater care and attention will be given to the welfare of animals in these settings.
