• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.474-477
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• 2017

We described the successful treatment of cases of lead poisoning in a Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and a Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) in Korea. The swan and vulture rescued were diagnosed with lead poisoning based on clinical signs, the presence of suspected lead-like particles in the ventriculus detected by radiography and elevated blood lead levels. Endoscopic retrieval for the swan and gastric lavage for the vulture were used to remove the lead respectively. After the removal of lead particles, a course of chelation treatment was administrated. This would be the first report of successfully treating wild birds with lead poisoning in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.579-584
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• 2019

The flight characteristics of 11 cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) were analyzed by a global positioning system (GPS) tracker(WT-300; KoEco, Inc.). The wintering period in Korea averaged 131 days (SD=17.4) and the average flight rate was 19.6%. The flight altitude was below 100 m for 21.6% of the flight, 101-200 m for 25.3%, 201-300 m for 19.0%, and below 300 m for 65.9%. There was a positive correlation (r=0.929) between the hourly flight rate and altitude. The predominant monthly flight altitude was 101-200 m (p<0.05). The wintering cinereous vultures lowered their flight rate and flew at an altitude of less than 300 m. This is thought to be an efficient way to find food through social interaction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.467-472
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• 2007

Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus) belongs to family Accipitridae and is a raptor preying small birds and mammals. It is a wintering bird residing from the mid of November to the late of March in Korea. Although Eurasian black vulture population wintering at Korea is gradually increased, the efficient rescue and treatment for injured Eurasian black vultures are still problematic, due to lack of basic data. Therefore, in this survey, to obtain basic resources for establishing more efficient rescue system, we surveyed the number of Eurasian black vultures wintering at Gangwon province, wintering ecology and injury state of Eurasian black vulture. Survey area was Togyo reservoir at Cheorwon, Seonan basin at Yangoo and Wolsong reservoir at Chuncheon from November 2004 to March 2005. From 12 rescued Eurasian black vultures, physical examination, total plasma protein (TPP) and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured. To survey injury state of Eurasian black vultures wintering at Gangwon province, we surveyed the cause, morbidity and mortality from 103 Eurasian black vultures, based on medical records from animal rescue teams. The number of eurasian black vultures were gradually increased from November, peaked at Feburary, then steeply decreased at March. Eurasian black vultures showed the most vigorous activity around 1 PM within a day. In physical examination, mean body weight was $9.6{\pm}1.22kg$, body length was $1130{\pm}45.4mm$. No statistically significant difference in body weight and length between male and female eurasian black vultures was observed. Mean PCV was $40.2{\pm}2.7%$, while mean TPP was $5.86{\pm}0.8mg/dl$. The most common cause of injury and mortality was intoxication, while that of morbidity was fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2009

The study was conducted from Jan. 11 to Jan. 12 2008 on 17 areas which were the wintering area of Aegypius monachus and where the birds were observed. In the study, a total of 1,912 individuals were observed to winter in the areas, which was larger than any previous observation. The study found that 1,500 individuals wintered in the central region of Korea including Gyeonggido and Kangwondo, which accounted for 78.45%, and 412 individuals (21.55%) in the southern region such as Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Jeannam and Jejudo (Island). Given the number of individuals wintering by region, Jangdan Peninsula (777 individuals), Cheorwon (488 individuals) and Sancheonggun(193 individuals) were mostly found. In comparison with the previous studies, 20-30% of the individuals have moved south since 2006. This movement might be attributed to the suspension of feeding campaigns, but the birds still crowded some specific areas.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2024

Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a large raptor that belongs to the family Accipitridae in the order Falconiformes. It is a migratory bird that returns to Mongolia after wintering in the Korean Peninsula. In February 2015, a cinereous vulture was rescued from Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do Province as it could not fly. It was transferred to the Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Center in Korea. It was found to have a closed fracture on the right radius through radiographic examination, a basic procedure. Surgery was performed at the fracture site using a shuttle pin and wire. After successful physical therapy and rehabilitation, the cinereous vulture was released in October 2015. A metal ring (150-00713) and wing tags (G/BL 3) were attached to the bird before its release for subsequent identification. Two years and 4 months later, in March 2018, the cinereous vulture was rescued and brought back to the center. It was diagnosed with secondary pesticide poisoning. After receiving treatment, a radiography test revealed no specific findings related to the previous fracture surgery. Considering that migratory birds travel long distances, it was confirmed that the treatment for reducing the fracture in the radius using a shuttle pin and a cerclage wire was suitable.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.256-260
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• 2018

Cannibalism is a widely observed phenomenon in the animal kingdom. However, it is rarely found among birds outside nests in the wild because it occurs irregularly and it is almost impossible to monitor animal behavior constantly. On 17 January 2017, this behavior was directly observed from a group of vultures feeding on a conspecific in a paddy field near Lake Geumho in Haenam-gun ($34^{\circ}35^{\prime}58.25^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$, $126^{\circ}26^{\prime}57.64^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$). It was observed and recorded with the binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens in a car approximately 20 m (or 60 m) away from the site. The observer approached the feeding site after the last vulture had finished feeding and flown away and found remains of a vulture, including body feathers, skull, sterna keel, and both legs. It was the first report of cannibalism in Cinereous vulture Aegypius monachus in its overwintering grounds. The remaining skeleton was very fleshy, and the surrounding grass was wet with the blood of vulture. No other traces of a mammal or bird that could have been the vultures' prey were found. This report provides a detailed account of the events related to this rare observation and the causes that might have led to it.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine distribution and abundance of wintering raptors in Korea during 2000-2007 which is a rare data set for covering large landscape areas. Total 6,643 raptors of 16 species were recorded at 94 different points in west, south and east coasts, and rivers of inland areas all over Korea. During the study period, the most abundant raptors were black vulture (Aegypius monachus, 62.3%), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, 11.0%) and common buzzard (Buteo buteo, 10.0%), and these 3 birds were dominant species in inland areas and also considered as resident species except for black vulture. Also, there was a difference among 5 different habitat types. Black vultures were most found in estuaries whereas common buzzard and common kestrel could be found in coastal areas. Presumably raptors prefer reservoirs and estuaries probably due to lower human disturbance in these areas, and management efforts should be concentrated in inland areas for black vulture and coastal areas for common kestrel and common buzzard.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.380-384
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• 2015

The relationships between end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide ($P_{ET}CO_2$) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide ($P_aCO_2$), and between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH in isoflurane-anesthetized cinereous vultures were evaluated. Nine cinereous vultures (weighing 7.3-9.5 kg) were anesthetized via mask with isoflurane, intubated, and connected to a mechanical ventilator. By mechanical ventilator, respiratory rate was altered to achieve a $P_{ET}CO_2$ randomly selected among 30 to 35 mmHg. $P_aCO_2$ and blood pH were determined in serial arterial samples and compared with concurrent $P_{ET}CO_2$ measured with a sidestream capnography. Thirty six samples, nine cinereous vultures were tested 4 times each, were used to determine correlations coefficients between $P_aCO_2$ and $P_{ET}CO_2$, and between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH. Strong correlations were observed between $P_aCO_2$ and $P_{ET}CO_2$ (r = 0.951, P = 0.000, y = 1.679x - 30.236, $R^2=0.905$) as well as between $P_{ET}CO_2$ and blood pH (r = -0.728, P = 0.000, y = -0.024x + 8.389, $R^2=0.530$) with Pearson's correlation coefficient and simple linear regression. These results suggest that the capnography used provided a sufficiently accurate estimation of $P_aCO_2$ and blood pH. Thus, the monitoring of $P_{ET}CO_2$ can be useful method to prevent hypoventilation for cinereous vultures receiving mechanical ventilation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-52
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• 2020

Twenty-four cinereous vultures that had been taken to a wildlife center due to starvation and exhaustion were studied to evaluate approaches for determining sex. Coelioscopy was performed to identify sexes of two vultures, whereas, DNA testing was performed to identify the sexes of the 24 vultures. Testes and ovaries could be unambiguously identified with an endoscope and DNA analyses could identify sex sex in most, but not all of the specimens. Although the coelioscopy examination can unambiguously confirm sex, the approach is invasive and requires anesthesia. Thus, coelioscopic examination should only be performed when sex cannot be determined through DNA analysis.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.40-61
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• 2009

The Cretaceous Gyeongsang Supergroup, composed of clastic sediments mostly deposited in the lacustrine and fluvial environment, is widely distributed in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Diverse fossils of plants, molluscs, insects, footprints of dinosaurs, pterosaurs and birds, and eggs, bones, and teeth of dinosaurs have been found from the Gyeongsang Supergroup. New types of dinosaur, pterosaur, and bird tracks recently discovered from the Gyeongsang Supergroup attract great attention from the world. Several tracksites of dinosaurs and birds were designated as Natural Monument and nationally conserved, and many efforts have given to them for nomination of UNESCO World Heritage. Bird tracks from the Gyeonsang Supergroup are Koreanaornis hamanensis, Jindongornipes kimi, Goseongornipes markjonesi, Ignotornis yangi, Uhangrichnus chuni, and Hwangsanipes choughi, which correspond approximately one third of Mesozoic bird tracks recorded from the world. The Gyeongsang Basin of the Korean Peninsula yields world most diverse bird tracks which may be called a paradise of Mesozoic birds and they are important natural heritage providing significant information about evolution and paleogeographic distribution of birds.