• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2012

As people's interest about wildlife animal increases, more wildlife animal centers are developing. In South Korea, currently 120 mammal species live, and 22 of them are designated as endangered species. It is important to protect these natural treasures and endangered species, because they are being harmed by human industrial activity. For example, road expansion and poaching have led to the destruction of wildlife animal habitats, which is increasing year by year. Nevertheless, data regarding the systematic treatment of wild animals that are in distress is lacking, and it is a reality that analysis of such data is also lacking. The Kangwon Wildlife Rescue Center investigates these types of distress experienced by mammals. By analyzing the shape of the wild animals killed or injured, the center seeks an efficient and systematic way to manage such distress. The data collected from the Wildlife Animal Center from September 2007 to August 2010 includes 195 different cases, and the animals point of rescue. There are 16 species, including 87 water deer (Hydropotes inermis), 39 raccoons (Nyctereutes procyonoides), 20 roe deer (Capreolus pygargus bedfordi), 10 goral (Nemorhaedus goral), 7 siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica), 6 otters (Lutra lutra) and etc. Within the first year (September 2007 to August 2008), the number of mammals rescued was 46. In the second year (September 2008 to August 2009), 60 animals were rescued. in the third year (September 2009 to August 2010), the Wildlife Animal Center had 89 animals. We can see that these numbers are increasing, which shows that people are interested in the well-being of these animals because they are reporting animal injuries more and more. The mains form of distress caused by humans are from car accidents 67 (34.4%). Traps, and other hunting tools used by poachers are responsible for 25 (13.0%). Also, human industrial activity thus indirectly led to the starvation 25 (13.0%). and the orphaning of young animals 37 (19.0%).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2008

Ecosystem fragmentation by human intervention breaks down the biosphere habitat. Wildlife corridors connect biosphere habitats to maintain ecosystem continuity and provide animals with connecting routes. In Korea, there are 17 existing wildlife corridors on highways (as of December, 2006. Korea Freeway Corporation). There are 24 highway routes, 2,923km of highway(as of December, 2004. Korea Freeway Corporation). However, wildlife corridors are not enough and roadkill increases every year, so we need to construct additional wildlife corridors on highways. This study proposes a new approach to the location of wildlife corridors on highways, using a comprehensive analysis method for main location elements, and applies it to a study area. First, it examines traditional approaches to location of wildlife corridors through literature review and field study to analyze the present conditions of existing wildlife corridors. Then, it developes a comprehensive analysis method for the location of wildlife corridors. (1) Field investigation : investigate planting, water bodies and so on. (2) Roadkill analysis : roadkill counts, locations, time, and so on. (3) Monitoring : animal traces were surveyed and sensor cameras were installed to determine target species. (4) Simulation for animal movement : most probable wildlife dispersal was simulated by a computer software. (5) A new comprehensive approach overlays all analysis on a map and determines the location of proposed new wildlife corridors. In conclusion, it proposes an over-bridge type wildlife corridor in Dalnaenae Hill (413-414km from Busan) and an underpass type near the entrance to Gwanhyun temple way (415-416km from Busan). This new approach based on roadkill data, computer simulation of wildlife dispersal, monitoring of animals, and site analysis, may contribute to better location of wildlife corridors on highways.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.401-409
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• 2010

From 2006 through 2007, the highest need for the most urgent attention in Gangwon-do Wild Animal Rescue Center was wildlifevehicle collisions (WVC). The Korean Ministry of Environment reported 6543 WVC's in 2005 and 5565 cases of WVC's in 2006. In this study, data from the Gangwon-do Wild Animal Rescue Center was utilized to analyze WVC incidents and the movement of wildlife near roadways in Korea. From 2006 through the first half of 2008, the portable GPS device recorded accident location of the injured wildlife. Attempts were made to track and monitor the movements of four raccoon dogs and five Korean water deers near the roads. One raccoon dog and one Korean water deer were successfully tracked and monitored. Their locations were transmitted to cell phones. The amount of WVC's was highest amongst the roads near the forests of Gangwon-do. The devices installed on the nearby roads did not protect the wildlife from WVC's. Results using the CDMA-type GPS collar showed that wildlife often crossed the road even with devices installed to prevent this from crossing roads. This research analyzed the behaviors of different wildlife animals and WVC's. New preventative measures need to be established to avoid roadkill. It is suggested that new streets be built or for an appropriate speed limit be implemented.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2022

Zoological Parks house exclusive animal species, thus creating a source of education and awareness for visitors. Big cats like tigers and leopards are among the most visited species in zoos globally. However, they often display stressful or stereotypic behaviours. Such behaviours are influenced by multiple factors including visitors, animal history, and captive environment. To understand this impact, we investigated the behavioural response of tigers and leopards to visitation, captive, and biological factors. The behaviour of eight big cats housed in the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, was monitored using focal sampling technique during May and June 2019. We recorded the captive and biological factors and visitor density for the subjects. The study revealed high proportions of inactive and stereotypic behaviours amongst the species. Tigers and leopards were found to perform stereotypic behaviours for 22% and 28% of their time, respectively. Generalised Linear Models revealed a significant variation of stereotypy in association with the factors. Stereotypy was influenced by visitor density, age, sex, breeding history, coat colour, and enclosure design. Adults, males, white-coated, previously bred, and those housed in smaller and simple enclosures display more stereotypy than young, females, normal-coated, unbred, and those housed in larger and complex enclosures, respectively. A high density of visitors induced more stereotypic behaviours amongst the big cats. As providing entertainment and awareness amongst the public is one of the fundamental objectives of the zoo, visitors can not be avoided. Thus, we suggest providing appropriate enrichments that would reduce stereotypies and promote naturalistic behaviours.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.29.1-29.5
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• 2023

An adult raccoon dog with extensive, deep, and contaminated wounds on the right hip and multiple fractures was rescued. The open wound was managed daily by debridement and flushing for 3 weeks. Modified active drainage was then performed, and antibiotics administered according to the antibiotic susceptibility test. After 2 weeks, the exudate disappeared and the drain was removed. After monitoring for 1 month, the animal was released in to the wild. This case shows that even if infection remains, rapid wound repair is possible if appropriate antibiotic selection through regular examination and active drainage are combined.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.24.1-24.14
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• 2017

Over the past decades, in vitro culture media have been developed to successfully support IVF embryo growth in a variety of species. Advanced reproductive technologies, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), challenge us with a new type of embryo, with special nutritional requirements and altered physiology under in vitro conditions. Numerous studies have successfully reconstructed cloned embryos of domestic animals for biomedical research and livestock production. However, studies evaluating suitable culture conditions for SCNT embryos in wildlife species are scarce (for both intra- and interspecies SCNT). Most of the existing studies derive from previous IVF work done in conventional domestic species. Extrapolation to non-domestic species presents significant challenges since we lack information on reproductive processes and embryo development in most wildlife species. Given the challenges in adapting culture media and conditions from IVF to SCNT embryos, developmental competence of SCNT embryos remains low. This review summarizes research efforts to tailor culture media to SCNT embryos and explore the different outcomes in diverse species. It will also consider how these culture media protocols have been extrapolated to wildlife species, most particularly using SCNT as a cutting-edge technical resource to assist in the preservation of endangered species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.67-69
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• 2010

Trypomastogotes of Trypanosoma brucei were detected from 4 asymptomatic kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) on a game ranch located approximately 45 km north east of Lusaka, Zambia. Blood smears examined from 14 wildlife species comprising of the impala (Aepyceros melampus), Kafue lechwe (kobus leche kafuensis), sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), puku (Kobus vardoni), zebra (Equus burchelli), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), wilderbeest (Connochaetes taurinus), hartebeest (Alcephelus lichtensteini), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) showed that only the kudu had T. brucei. Although game ranching has emerged to be a successful ex-situ conservation strategy aimed at saving the declining wildlife population in the National Parks, our findings suggest that it has the potential of aiding the re-distribution of animal diseases. Hence, there is a need for augmenting wildlife conservation with disease control strategies aimed at reducing the risk of disease transmission between wildlife and domestic animals.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate and analyze fractures types in wild mammals in Korea. Wild mammals treated at 3 wildlife centers in Korea were included. Of the 63 cases included in this study, water deer was the most common species encountered with fractures. We determined 85 different fracture sites, with maximum lumber vertebral fractures followed by femoral, tibial and pelvic fractures. External skeletal fixator (ESF)-intramedullary (IM) pin (IM+ESF tie-in fixation) was the most common method applied for the surgical treatment of mammals. Lumbar vertebrae and femur were the most common bones involved. The findings of this study are expected to provide information for veterinarians regarding the frequency and characteristics of fractures in wild mammals and serve as a basic database for the types and outcomes of fractures in wild mammals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.467-472
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• 2018

Objective: Molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis of annexin A2 (ANXA2) gene in sika deer antler tip were conducted. The role of ANXA2 gene in the growth and development of the antler were analyzed initially. Methods: The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to clone the cDNA sequence of the ANXA2 gene from antler tip of sika deer (Cervus Nippon hortulorum) and the bioinformatics methods were applied to analyze the amino acid sequence of Anxa2 protein. The mRNA expression levels of the ANXA2 gene in different growth stages were examined by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR). Results: The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1,020 bp encoding 339 amino acids long protein of calculated molecular weight 38.6 kDa and isoelectric point 6.09. Homologous sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Anxa2 mature protein of sika deer had the closest genetic distance with Cervus elaphus and Bos mutus. Real time RT-PCR results showed that the gene had differential expression levels in different growth stages, and the expression level of the ANXA2 gene was the highest at metaphase (rapid growing period). Conclusion: ANXA2 gene may promote the cell proliferation, and the finding suggested Anxa2 as an important candidate for regulating the growth and development of deer antler.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1367-1376
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• 2024

Objective: Parathyroid hormone like hormone (PTHLH), as an essential factor for bone growth, is involved in a variety of physiological processes. The aim of this study was to explore the role of PTHLH gene in the growth of antlers. Methods: The coding sequence (CDS) of PTHLH gene cDNA was obtained by cloning in sika deer (Cervus nippon), and the bioinformatics was analyzed. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the differences expression of PTHLH mRNA in different tissues of the antler tip at different growth periods (early period, EP; middle period, MP; late period, LP). Results: The CDS of PTHLH gene was 534 bp in length and encoded 177 amino acids. Predictive analysis results revealed that the PTHLH protein was a hydrophilic protein without transmembrane structure, with its secondary structure consisting mainly of random coil. The PTHLH protein of sika deer had the identity of 98.31%, 96.82%, 96.05%, and 94.92% with Cervus canadensis, Bos mutus, Oryx dammah and Budorcas taxicolor, which were highly conserved among the artiodactyls. The qRT-PCR results showed that PTHLH mRNA had a unique spatio-temporal expression pattern in antlers. In the dermis, precartilage, and cartilage tissues, the expression of PTHLH mRNA was extremely significantly higher in MP than in EP, LP (p<0.01). In the mesenchyme tissue, the expression of PTHLH mRNA in MP was significantly higher than that of EP (p<0.05), but extremely significantly lower than that of LP (p<0.01). The expression of PTHLH mRNA in antler tip tissues at all growth periods had approximately the same trend, that is, from distal to basal, it was first downregulated from the dermis to the mesenchyme and then continuously up-regulated to the cartilage tissue. Conclusion: PTHLH gene may promote the rapid growth of antler mainly through its extensive regulatory effect on the antler tip tissue.