‘5,000 animals killed on Seoul roads each year'

Approximately 5,000 to 6,000 animals are hit and killed on the streets of Seoul every year, a lawmaker said Tuesday.

According to the opposition The Minjoo Party Rep. Song Ok-joo, Seoul Metropolitan Government data showed that 17,036 animals were killed on the streets of Seoul over the past three years, with the number rising each year.

A total of 7,465 animals were killed on Seoul streets in 2014, while the number jumped to 6,065 in 2015. Within the first half of 2016, 3,506 animals were found dead from roadkill.

The majority of animals found dead on Seoul streets were cats, with 13,604 cats being killed since 2014, followed by 1,517 dogs and 1,915 other wild animals.

The lawmaker urged the SMG to take preventive measures to better protect animals.

“The SMG should establish measures as part of efforts to curb roadkill accidents and for the safety of animals and drivers, such as by constructing more fences or ecological corridors,” Song said.

Since 2007, the Environment Ministry and some municipalities have pushed to install ecological corridors near roads to provide animals with safe paths.

By Kim Da-sol(ddd@heraldcorp.com)