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Approximately 100 species of mammal are known to inhabit, or to have recently inhabited, the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding waters. This includes a few species that were introduced in the 20th century; the coypu was introduced for farming in the 1990s, and the muskrat was introduced in the early 20th century into the Russian Far East, and was subsequently first recorded in Korea in the Tumen River basin in 1965. The Siberian tiger is the national animal of South Korea. The Siberian tiger and Amur leopard have most likely been extirpated from Korea, but are still included in standard lists of Korean mammals.
Most Korean mammal species are found only in a small part of Korea, or have been extirpated by human activity. The large southeastern island of Jeju, and the rugged northeastern Paektu Mountain region, are particularly known for their distinctive mammal species. Several species, including the Dsinezumi shrew, are found only on Jeju, while many other species, such as the wild boar, are absent or extirpated from there. Some mammals, such as the Manchurian wapiti, are considered natural monuments of North Korea, while others, such as the spotted seal, are considered natural monuments of South Korea.
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Order Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates
<onlyinclude> Common name (Korean name) Species (authority) Preferred habitat Range StatusThe following abbreviations are used: I: International. These are sourced from the IUCN Red List. K: Korea NK: North Korea SK: South Korea J: Jeju Family Bovidae: bovidsAurochs
()Bos primigenius(Bojanus, 1827)Dense forestHistorically throughout mainlandYeong-Seok Jo, John T. Baccus, John Koprowski, 2018, Mammals of Korea, p.30, National Institute of Biological Resources of KoreaI: ExtinctLong-tailed goral
()Naemorhedus caudatusGiven as Nemorhaedus goral in Won (2004). The Korean population is generally referred to N. c. raddeanus Heude.(Hamilton Smith, 1827)High mountainsHistorically found throughout the Taebaek Mountains; northern Taebaek Mountains, including the Demilitarized Zone.Won (2004), p. 273; Won & Smith (1999), p. 21. It was once widespread across the Taebaek and Rangrim ranges, but the population had fallen to around 40 by 1990.I: Vulnerable K: EndangeredWon & Smith (1999), p. 7. NK: Natural monumentThe goral of Tanchon is designated North Korean natural monument 293. SK: Natural monumentDesignated South Korean natural monument #217 on November 20, 1968. Family Cervidae: deerSiberian roe deer
()Capreolus pygargus(Pallas, 1771)Forest vergesThroughout; not found on UlleungdoManchurian wapiti ()Cervus canadensis xanthopygus(H. Milne-Edwards, 1867)Mixed and Deciduous forestsHistorically found throughout mainland; extirpatedWon (2008), p. 264 I: Least concern K: Locally extinct ExtirpatedWon & Smith (1999), p. 21.Manchurian sika deer
()Cervus nippon mantchuricus(Temminck, 1838)Open forest and forest vergesHistorically found throughout mainland; extirpatedWon (2004), p. 264I: Least concern. K: Vulnerable NK: Natural monumentThe Samjiyon population has been designated Natural Monument 349, and the Paegam population Natural Monument 362. Water deer
()Hydropotes inermis(R. Swinhoe, 1870)Low mountains and riparian areas; often visits urban areasThroughout mainlandI: Near threatened SK: GameWon & Smith (1999), p. 7. One of only 3 mammal species legally hunted in South Korea. Family Moschidae: musk deerSiberian musk deer
()Moschus moschiferus(Linnaeus, 1758)Mountain forestHistorically throughout mainland; North Korea; also found in Gangwon, South KoreaI: Vulnerable K: Endangered NK: Natural monumentThe musk deer of Rogya ri, in Undok, North Hamgyong, has been designated natural monument #331. The population in the Mayang workers' district of Musan is designated #380, while the population in Taehung county is designated #401. SK: Natural monumentDesignated natural monument #216 on October 20, 1968. Family Suidae: pigsWild boar
()Sus scrofa ussuricus(Linnaeus, 1758)Mountain forestThroughout mainlandI: Least concern SK: Game
Order Carnivora: carnivores
Common name (Korean name) Species (authority) Preferred habitat Range Status Family Canidae: canidsGrey wolf ()Canis lupus Forests and open woodsHistorically found throughout mainland, but only after human-induced declines of tigers; currently restricted Paektu Mountain areaI: Least concern K: EndangeredWon (2004), p. 147. - valign="top"Dhole ()Cuon alpinus Dense forest and high mountainsHistorically found throughout mainlandI: Endangered K: VulnerableRaccoon dog ()Nyctereutes procyonoides Wooded valleysThroughout mainlandI: Least concern K: UncommonRed fox ()Vulpes vulpes Brushy areas and forest vergesHistorically throughout mainland; northern and northeastern Korea, reintroduction ongoing in South KoreaI: Least concern K: EndangeredWon (2004, p. 151); Won & Smith (1999), p. 7. Family FelidaeLeopard cat ()Prionailurus bengalensis Dense forestThroughout mainland, with major population in DMZ I: Least concern K: VulnerableWon & Smith (1999), p. 18.Eurasian lynx ()Lynx lynx Montane forestNorth Hamgyong and Chagang, North Korea; historical occurrence in South Korea uncertainI: Least concern K: EndangeredLeopard ()Panthera pardus High dense forestHistorically throughout mainland; extirpated; possibly northeastern North KoreaI: Vulnerable K: Amur leopard (P. p. orientalis) EndangeredTiger ()Panthera tigris Rocky forestHistorically throughout the mainland; extirpated; possibly northeastern North KoreaI: Endangered K: Siberian tiger (P. t. tigris) Endangered NK: Siberian tiger (P. t. tigris) Critically endangered, natural monument Family Mustelidae: mustelidsEurasian otter ()Lutra lutra Riparian areasThroughout mainland, scatteredI: Near threatened K: EndangeredWon & Smith 1999, pp. 7, 18. NK: Natural monumentThe Poptong population is designated Natural Monument #249, and population in Yonsa's Sinyang workers' district is designated #331. SK: Natural monumentDesignated as Natural Monument #330.Yellow-throated marten ()Martes flavigula (Boddaert, 1785)High forestHistorically throughout mainland; northern Korea and parts of central and southern KoreaI: Least concern K: VulnerableSable ()Martes zibellina High, dense boreal forestHistorically found throughout northern and central Korea; North Hamgyong, northeastern North KoreaI: Least concern K: Endangered NK: Natural monumentThe Paegam population is designated North Korean Natural Monument #331. Asian badger ()Meles leucurus Forests and mountain valleys. Fossorial.Throughout mainlandI: Least concernLeast weasel ()Mustela nivalis Subalpine areasFar northeastern and northwestern North Korea;Won & Smith (1999), p. 19. also northern South KoreaI: Least concern K: Rare to locally abundant Siberian weasel ()Mustela sibirica The variety of M. sibirica found on Jeju Island is sometimes regarded as a separate subspecies, the "Jeju weasel" or Mustela sibirica quelpartis Thomas 1906.Forests and riparian areasThroughout, including Jeju I: Least concern K: Locally abundant Family Ursidae: bearsBrown bear ()Ursus arctos Thick forestHistorically found in northern Korea; likely extirpatedI: Least concern K: EndangeredDue to heavy hunting Won & Smith (1999), p. 17. NK: Natural monumentThe Ryongrim population was designated natural monument #124 on January 1, 1980. The Yonsa population has been designated natural monument #330. Asian black bear ()Ursus thibetanus (G. Cuvier, 1823)Given in many sources as Selenarctos thibetanusThick forestHistorically found throughout mainland; Jirisan (reintroduced) and DMZ area in South Korea; Mount Kumgang and Paektu Mountain in North KoreaI: Vulnerable K: Endangered SK: Natural monumentDesignated as South Korean natural monument 329 on November 4, 1982. Superfamily Pinnipedia: pinnipeds Common name (Korean name) Species (authority) Preferred habitat Range StatusAccording to Won (2004, p. 188ff), seals are protected from hunting under South Korean law. Family Otariidae: eared sealsNorthern fur seal ()Callorhinus ursinus Coasts and seasSea of JapanI: VulnerablePop. estimated at 1.3 million in Won (2004), p. 191.Steller sea lion ()Eumetopias jubatus Coasts and seasNorthern Yellow Sea and Sea of JapanJapanese sea lion ()Zalophus japonicus Coasts and seasEast China Sea, Korea Strait, Sea of JapanI: Extinct in 1970s (IUCN 3.1)Harbor seal ()Phoca vitulina Coasts and seasNorthern Sea of JapanI: Least concern Spotted seal ()Phoca largha Coasts and seasThroughout Yellow Sea, Sea of Japan, and Korea Strait; large colony on BaengnyeongdoI: Least concern K: Vulnerable SK: Natural monumentDesignated Natural Monument #331 on November 4, 1982. Won (2004), p. 194.
Order Cetacea: whales
Common name (Korean name) Species (authority) Preferred habitat Range Status Suborder Mysticeti: baleen whales Family Balaenidae: right whalesNorth Pacific right whale
()Eubalaena japonica(Lacépède, 1818)High reliance on coastal watersSea of Japan, Korea Strait, Yellow Sea, East China Sea (wiped out by Japanese, Soviet, and American whalers) It is unknown whether historically whales were seen for year-round in Korean waters. All modern records of the species in Yellow Sea had been concentrated vicinity to Haiyang Island, and all modern catches and strandings and sightings in East China Sea have been restricted around Amami OshimaThe Amami Shinbun. 2014. . Retrieved October 19, 2014Amami whale and dolphin association . 2014. Retrieved October 19. 2014Marine Mammal Stranding DB_record_detail. Svrsh2.kahaku.go.jp. Retrieved October 30, 2011. (5 records on Amami and Sukomobanare Islands in the last 110 yearsOki K. (2014). 1/29 セミクジラ再発見ならず・・・ . Retrieved October 19. 2014) until 2014 as a right whale entered and cavorted in the port of Ushibuka, Kumamoto, later being chased out by fishery boats to concern either boat-struck or damage to fishery (Eubalaena sp. never or mostly does not feed on fish) on March.JPG image. bp.kumanichi.com Last record sighting on Amami was of a 10-meter individual off Cape Miyakozaki on January 28, 2014, and another whale (unknown whether or not the same individual) swam into Ushibuka Port on March 28. Prior to this, a 10-meter individual was seen in Yakiuchi Bay on April 12, 1997.