Sanctuary of Tundra Swans on Jindo Island

Swans breed in Europe, the Soviet Union, Mongolia, China and other regions, and in winter fly to Africa, India, Korea and elsewhere, spending the season here from November to February. In Korea they winter around the coasts and then, as spring comes, follow a regular pattern of moving north again to breed. Swans have recently come to be called goni. The Sanctuary of Tundra Swans on Jindo Island lies in the south-west of the Korean peninsula. Jindo Island is well suited to providing a resting place for swans migrating through the waters off the south-western coast. Because the area lies far from major cities, it has been relatively spared the effects of environmental pollution; however, recent reclamation and land-fill work have reduced the birds' food supply, and as a result swans have also taken to scattering to nearby coasts to spend the winter. It is said that a year when many swans arrive will bring a good harvest. Swans are fond of people, and in Europe and Japan they will approach people closely to be fed, but in Korea they remain wary and are difficult to approach. The Sanctuary of Tundra Swans on Jindo Island is the only place along Korea's south-western coastal waters where swans can spend the winter, and it has been designated a natural monument in order to protect this environment.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jindo, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물