Honam hub zoo expands specialized animal medical services
Five zoos receive tailored checkups, including Saebyeol Friends
Gwangju's Uchi Zoo is bringing its veterinary expertise beyond the mainland — all the way to Jeju.
Uchi Zoo, the designated hub zoo for the Honam region, has expanded its specialized animal medical services to Jeju.
The zoo conducted a two-day outreach program June 23-24, visiting five Jeju facilities — Saebyeol Friends, Jeju Nature Ecology Park, Hallim Park, Gogh's Garden and Smile Rabbit Pet — to hold information sessions and provide on-site veterinary care.
The event was organized to introduce the roles and support programs of Uchi Zoo, which was designated as the Honam region's hub zoo in June last year, and to strengthen cooperative ties with Jeju zoos.
Veterinarians from Uchi Zoo traveled directly to each site to assess animal health and deliver medical services tailored to each species, raising both the standard of care and animal welfare at the participating facilities.
The veterinary team visited all five Jeju zoos in succession, conducting health checkups and clinical examinations on birds, herbivores, reptiles and bears. The team also provided expert medical advice on disease prevention and treatment.
At Saebyeol Friends, the team performed health checkups and vaccinations for black-nosed sheep and alpacas, and shared species-specific disease prevention and management techniques.
At Jeju Nature Ecology Park, veterinarians carried out clinical examinations on four captive bears currently under rescue care. Drawing on Uchi Zoo's experience in Asiatic black bear conservation and geriatric animal care, the team assessed each animal's condition and discussed future management plans.
Uchi Zoo currently cares for four captive bears and plans to take in two more this year. Building on its expertise in Asiatic black bear conservation and elderly animal treatment, the zoo is also exploring the expansion of sanctuary-type protective facilities and the development of a specialized care system.
Uchi Zoo has consistently provided on-site veterinary care and medical consultation for animals at facilities in Suncheon, Yeosu, Damyang and Haenam in South Jeolla Province. The zoo plans to use this Jeju visit as a springboard to extend its specialized animal medical services across the entire Honam region.
The zoo is equipping itself with animal transport and mobile veterinary vehicles as well as specialized medical equipment, and plans to conduct a second round of outreach visits to Jeju in the second half of the year.
"A hub zoo's role goes beyond simply operating a facility — it involves providing specialized veterinary care and technical support to regional zoos," said Seong Chang-min, director of the Uchi Park Management Office. "We will continue to build a more comprehensive mobile care network to narrow the gap in animal medical services between regions and contribute to improving animal welfare."
Since being designated as the Honam region's hub zoo in 2025, Uchi Zoo has overseen 25 zoos across Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, North Jeolla Province and Jeju, carrying out specialized support programs covering disease management, emergency rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and species conservation and breeding.
sij@heraldcorp.com
