Hope for the Storks

[Anchor Lead]

A Korean scholar has devoted his academic life to the restoration of the nation's natural monument birds, the storks, for over 20 years. Upon his retirement, the professor says that his last wish is to see great numbers of storks fly across Korean skies, as they once did in the past.

[Pkg]

The stork... which went extinct in Korea but is designated a natural heritage monument... soars into the sky. The achievement comes 20 years after a stork restoration project was launched. Korea National University of Education Professor Park Si-ryong and his research team launched the project in 1996. At first, they began with a pair of young storks imported from Russia.

[Soundbite] Prof. Park Si-ryong(Korea National University of Education) : "It is very difficult to obtain storks. In other countries, it is forbidden to take the birds out overseas since they are an internationally endangered animal."

With their persistent efforts, the researchers succeeded in artificially reproducing the storks in 2004 for the fourth time in the world. The number of storks has increased to 160. Professor Park is called the father of the storks for his passion for restoring the bird despite difficulties.

[Soundbite] Dr. Yoon Jong-min(Korea National University of Education) : "I thought he was mad for storks. He is 200 percent committed."

Upon his retirement, the professor says that he wants to continue to work for the restoration of storks.

[Soundbite] Prof. Park Si-ryong(Korea National University of Education) : "My job is to continuously work for the restoration of storks outside the school."

His last wish is to create a natural environment in South Korea where more storks can live.