Comprehension Exercise – 5
Creative Writing – 42
Read the article thoroughly and answer the questions that follow
The article from BBC
A rare Asiatic black bear has been spotted in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), South Korea’s government says. It was captured on video in the eastern part of the zone that divides North and South Korea. The Asiatic black bear is described as endangered by the World Wildlife Fund.The DMZ has become a haven for plants and wildlife with South Korea’s government predicting there are over 100 endangered species that call the area home.
A ministry official told Yonhap news: “It is believed that the photographed bear, about eight to nine months old and weighing about 25 to 35 kilograms, is a descendant of the Asiatic black bears who inhabited the DMZ region for quite a long time.” South Korean soldiers had reported seeing bears in the past however there was not any photographic evidence. The cameras were installed by South Korea’s National Institute of Technology. The DMZ is a strip of land 250km (155 miles) long and 4km (2.5 miles) wide that runs across the Korean Peninsula. It is currently heavily mined and fortified with barbed wire, rows of surveillance cameras and electric fencing.
It was created following the signing of the armistice that brought an end to the 1950-53 Korean War. Around 6.5 million visitors come to the DMZ every year to peek through the fence at North Korea. However, thanks to a recent warming of ties between the two Koreas, hiking trails are being established in the DMZ near the border towns of Cheorwon and Paju. The South Korean government has long been planning an “ecological tourism belt” in the area.
What animals reside in the DMZ? Because the area is so cut-off, it has become a pristine nature reserve. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Environment, there are over 5,097 animal and plant species in the zone. The red-crowned crane and black-faced spoonbill are among the rare birds that can be found in the DMZ.
The red-crowned crane is one of the rarest in the world, and classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Its global population is estimated to number around 3,050. Birds also migrate through the DMZ to Mongolia, China, Russia, the Philippines and Australia. Other animals such as the Amur goral, Cinereous vulture and Eurasian lynx have been spotted in the area.
Seung-ho Lee, president of the DMZ Forum told the BBC: “Many researchers and scholars emphasize the biodiversity of the region because there is no human contact, which is prohibited because of landmines. Some famous ecologists in the US said it is actually a paradise. The animals we can see are very fantastic mammals and bird species but researchers say there are more than just eye-catching species such as plants and trees and flowers.” He added that there had been tiger footprints seen in the area and some US soldiers had reported seeing a tiger-like figure in the past. Mr Lee said that the future of the area “depends on how the peace movement is between North and South Korea.” “We are always worrying about the other side of destruction and and what might happen if something goes really wrong, for us, it’s a dilemma.”
Questions
1. Where exactly was the Asiatic black bear sighted? Why it has created such a sensation around the world among wild life lovers?
2. When and why was the DMZ created? Why does that small strip of land fascinate the wild life lovers?
3. Does the DMZ attract tourists? What is being done to promote tourism in this place?
4. Which other species of fauna inhabit the DMZ? Why do the wild life conservationists so excited about these species found here?
5. What does Mr. Lee think about the wild life reserve area? Is he optimistic?
Answers
1. The Asiatic Black black bear was spotted in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) that separates the North and South Korea. This species aroused interest because it is listed as one in the long list of endangered species of the world.
2. The DMZ was created in 1953 under an Armistice agreement signed between North Korea, China and the United Nations. The purpose was to create a buffer between the two warring sides of Korea — South Korea and North Korea. It is 250 km long stretch of land that now has rich reserve of flora and fauna. Long years of isolation from human activity has contributed to this happy development. For wild life lovers, it is a treasure trove where they stumble upon near-extinct varieties of animal life.
3. The DMZ beckons tourists from far and wide. This narrow stretch of land has ensured peace and tranquility. With no boots, and gun fire, mother Nature unravels her bounty generously. Therefore, the tourists find the place so exciting. With the two feuding sides inching towards a thaw, it has become possible to mark out hiking trails near the border towns of Cheorwon and Paju in the DMZ.
4. The Spoonbill and the Red-crowned Crane are among the most sought-after species among the many rare varieties of wild life found here. Perhaps, this is the only habitat for these rarest of rare birds. The wild life enthusiasts find the DMZ so exciting because of such sightings.
5. Mr. Lee is cautiously optimistic about this conservation project. He thinks continuing peace will ensure the preservation of this habitat. On the contrary, a return to past hostility will destroy this delicate repository of Nature’s priceless bounty.