After 'Bukangi,' Dolphin 'Anmoki' Also Set to Return to the Wild

Anmoki, injured and treated, to be released off Seogwipo on the 10th

Anmoki, an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin rescued off the coast of Gangneung in July and treated since then, is set to return to the sea.

Anmogi, admitted to the Jangsaengpo Whale Ecology Experience Center in Ulsan, a specialized marine animal treatment facility. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

On Nov. 8, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it plans to release Anmoki into the wild on Nov. 10 in waters near Sanbangsan Mountain in Seogwipo, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

Anmoki was spotted last year off the coast near Gangneung Port, formerly Anmok Port. The dolphin drew attention for not keeping its distance from people, including by following boats. However, it was injured in several places, including a roughly 20-cm tear in the skin around its back, after approaching a boat's propeller. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries determined that Anmoki faced a high risk of dying if left untreated and rescued it on July 15.

Anmoki was then moved to the Jangsaengpo Whale Ecology Experience Center in Ulsan, a specialized marine animal treatment facility. It spent about four months in a tank, focusing on treatment and rehabilitation training.

Anmoki's wounds have now fully healed. Its ability to hunt live prey and swim has also reportedly returned to normal. After consulting experts, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries decided to release it into the waters off Jeju, the habitat of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will oversee the release, while the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea will handle operations at the site. The Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation will transport Anmoki from Ulsan to Jeju on one of its vessels. Fourteen experts, including veterinarians and aquarists, will also be dispatched from eight rescue and treatment institutions, including Lotte World Aquarium and Seoul Grand Park.

Authorities also plan to attach a tracking device to Anmoki to monitor its movements. The device is designed to transmit satellite signals for one to three months before detaching from Anmoki's body.

Jeongho Seo, head of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Maritime Policy Office, said, "This is a rare case worldwide of a dolphin rescued from the wild receiving specialized treatment and then being returned to the wild. We will continue to monitor how well Anmoki adapts to the wild after its release."

Bukangi, a shark that entered an artificial channel at Busan North Port Waterfront Park in September and stayed there for more than a month, drawing public attention, was led out of the channel by authorities on Oct. 21. Bukangi has not been seen since Oct. 27. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the National Institute of Fisheries Science say the shark may be swimming underwater in the deeper waters around North Port, and that it is too early to conclude that it has returned to the sea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.