{"id":176230,"date":"2025-10-12T10:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T10:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-north-koreans-are-facing-hunger-which-has-led-them-to-start-hunting-tigers-this-is-only-the-beginning-of-a-larger-issue\/"},"modified":"2025-10-12T10:25:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T10:25:14","slug":"the-north-koreans-are-facing-hunger-which-has-led-them-to-start-hunting-tigers-this-is-only-the-beginning-of-a-larger-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-north-koreans-are-facing-hunger-which-has-led-them-to-start-hunting-tigers-this-is-only-the-beginning-of-a-larger-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"The North Koreans are facing hunger, which has led them to start hunting tigers. This is only the beginning of a larger issue."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

North Korea<\/strong> is a \u00a0unique country\u00a0, often described as one of the most \u00a0hermetic\u00a0 places on Earth. Its isolation and rigidity make it tremendously challenging to understand the daily lives of its citizens. While the official narrative touts \u00a0prosperity\u00a0 and \u00a0normalcy\u00a0, myriad testimonies from defectors tell a starkly different story, revealing the brutal realities that many face. Recently, disturbing reports of wildlife hunting have emerged, exposing a \u00a0systematic\u00a0 approach to animal extinction in a bid for survival.<\/p>\n

Despite its mounting struggles, \u00a0wildlife trade\u00a0 persists. Researchers like Joshua Elves-Powell have begun to shed light on these clandestine practices. His recent study, centered on \u00a042 North Korean defectors\u00a0, reveals an unsettling account of how North Koreans have engaged in hunting for food and trade. During interviews conducted in South Korea and the UK between 2021 and 2022, participants disclosed the extent of this trade, which often included hunting endangered species.<\/p>\n

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The 1990s marked a pivotal era for North Korea, as the \u00a0economic collapse\u00a0 led to widespread famine. As people sought ways to survive, the relationship between citizens and their country\u2019s wildlife dramatically shifted. Testimonies reveal that professionals, soldiers, and everyday citizens alike began hunting creatures ranging from deer to tigers. Many hunting expeditions were not just for sustenance but aimed at selling parts of the animals on local black markets.<\/p>\n
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One defector described their involvement in the trade of \u00a0tiger bones\u00a0 from the Pyongyang Zoo back in 2020, recounting how they had obtained such products through connections with professional hunters. This illegal trade is expansive, extending beyond North Korea to countries like \u00a0China\u00a0 and \u00a0Russia\u00a0, directly violating international conservation treaties.<\/p>\n
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Elves-Powell’s research identifies that virtually all native mammals exceeding \u00a0500 grams\u00a0 are potential targets for hunters. Not limited to just large predators like the \u00a0Siberian tiger\u00a0, various other species are caught for both meat and traditional medicinal practices. The most commonly sought prey includes:<\/p>\n
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