Abstract
Swans are representative migratory birds that spend winter in East Asia, and have long been considered rare birds. In particular, they were regarded as king of Japan. The process of designating a natural monument in Hapcheon Swan Sanctuary is an interesting story. In this study, the designation and release process of Hapcheon Swan Sancturay ((Bakgok-ji, Yongju-myeon 龍州面 朴谷池), (Jeongyang-ji, Daeyang-myeon 大陽面 正陽池), Gaho, Cheongdeok-myeon 淸德面 嘉湖)) Natural Monument, was examined. These places were designated as a natural monument on August 27, 1934, during the Japanese colonial period, and was lifted on August 14, 1973, after the Cultural Protection Act was enacted after liberation. From the beginning of the new year in 1929, the Japanese Government-General of Korea (朝鮮總督府) decided to capture swans alive to give to the king of Japan. An official of the Japanese Government-General of Korea (統監) decided to offer swans to the king during his New Year's greeting visit. The department in charge of capturing swans was the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Police Department, and the execution was the police station of each county (郡). The reason is believed to be that it is easy to forcibly mobilize, control, or urge people, and the capture activity had to be completed as soon as possible. A total of three swans were captured in Hapcheon-gun from January 12 to 14, 1929. At that time, various newspapers published related information. Based on these facts and experiences, it is estimated that the Hapcheon area was selected when designating a natural monument in 1934. Hapcheon Swan Sancturay, Natural Monument lost its function due to excessive human interference of various developments, illegal capture, and use of poison to catch swans. Their number has also significantly decreased. It was thus removed from the natural monument in 1973. One of the three swan sanctuaries (Gaho 嘉湖) has been completely reclaimed, one (Bakgok-ji 朴谷池) has almost no migratory birds due to the conversion of wetlands, and one (Jeongyang-ji 正陽池) has swans flying back. In the case of Jeongyangji (正陽池), It is an encouraging sign that many swans fly as the surrounding environment and growing conditions change. This phenomenon is interpreted to mean that nature and climate are recovering and healing.
백조는 신의 전령사로 여길 만큼 서조이자 귀중한 겨울 철새이다. 백조도래지는 처음 천연기념물로 지정될만큼 중요한 역사적 의미를 지닌다. 본 연구에서는 천연기념물로 지정된 합천 백조도래지에 대한 지정과 해제과정을 살펴보고자 했다. 합천 백조도래지는 지정 이전에 있었던 역사적 사실이 영향을 끼쳤다고 판단된다. 일제강점기인 1929년 일본왕에게 새해 인사로 합천군 용주면에서 생포한 백조를 진상하였던 것이 계기가 아니었을까 한다. 이러한 사실은 5여 년 뒤 천연기념물을 지정할 때, 합천 백조도래지 선정에 긍정적으로 작용하였을 것으로 추론된다. 합천 백조도래지는 1934년 8월 27일, 처음 우리나라 천연기념물로 지정되었다. 그 흔적으로 용주면 해곡마을 입구에는 일제강점기 조선 총독부에서 만든 석표가 유물로 남아 있다. 이러한 천연기념물 합천 백조도래지는 1973년 8월 14일 해제되었다. 전쟁과 다양한 개발을 통한 과도한 인간의 간섭, 불법 포획, 그리고 그들을 잡기 위한 독극물 사용으로 인해 겨울 철새의 개체수가 급격히 줄어들어 백조도래지의 기능을 상실하였기 때문이다. 천연기념물 지정 당시 합천군 백조도래지는 3개소였다. 청덕면 가호(嘉湖)는 완전히 매립되어 사라져 농지로 전환되었고, 용주면 박곡지(朴谷池)는 상류의 댐 건설로 인해 습지가 사라져 가고 있으며, 대양면 정양지(正陽池)만이 습지가 존속되면서 백조 등 겨울 철새가 날아들고 있어 많은 시사점을 남기고 있다.