KCTV Jeju has reported that wild black goats infected with Q fever on (비양도) Biyangdo Island were culled for disease control.

Now the island is finding peace as its habitat returns to its original beauty. There are even plans to transform the island into a themed park as well.

Joseph Kim reports.

[slug] Biyangdo Island, Hallim-eup, April 12

Unsightly, ragged nets are spread and hung along the hiking trails and walls of a house.

They were set to fend off wild black goats.

[slug] Torn-out nets scattered, Biyang peak barren

As hundreds of wild black goats used to graze on the hillsides, the peak area has been stripped of grass.

[slug] Native vegetation restored after culling wild black goats

Wild black goats had been everywhere on the island for over 40 years.

Earlier this year, quarantine authorities confirmed an outbreak of Q fever on the animals on the island.

Tens of goats were found dead from the disease.

Authorities seized and killed all of the wild animals for disease control.

Now, without the destructive animal, native vegetation is being restored and the island is ready for transformation.

Community development projects long delayed because of the wild goats are expected to gain speed this year.

[slug] Themed Park to be constructed with 6.4 billion won investment

The island had been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of New Deal projects for fishing villages by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

6.4 billion won will be poured into the island by next year for creating a themed park.

[slug] Flower gardens and cash crops to be cultivated

Local communities are planning to create flower gardens to attract visitors and farm crops to increase earnings of residents.

[slug] Remains of quarantine removed, trekking trails renovated

Abandoned nets and fences are being removed and hiking trails are also undergoing renovation for visitors.

[slug] Saltmarsh ‘Palrangmot pond’ to be streamlined

The nation's only saltmarsh "(팔랑못) Palrangmot pond" in which water is stagnant and dirty will also be streamlined.

The planned projects, at last, become realistic as there are no more wild goats ravaging the ecosystem.

Yun Seong-min / Community leader, Biyang-ri
With the goats gone, we can clear the nets and fences away and encourage tourists to stay in the island to observe the rare Oreocnide fruticosa trees found only on the island.
< 윤성민 / 한림읍 비양리 이장 >
이제 염소가 없으니 철책을 없애서 전국에 하나 밖에 없는 희귀식물인 비양나무를 관람할 수 있게 해서 체류형쪽으로 가도록 볼거리를 제공할 계획입니다.

Gang Mi-seon / Docent in geology
Visitors find Biyangdo Island more serene than Udo Island than they initially perceive. The place will become more cozy and enjoyable soon.
< 강미선 / 비양도 지질해설사 >
(관광객들이) 우도처럼 생각했는데 비양도가 너무 조용하고 힐링하기 좋다고 얘기해요. 앞으로 더 아늑해지고 볼거리도 많아지게 될 것으로 생각해요.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

Biyangdo, known as the island of a thousand years, for decades experienced ruin from wild goats .

As the long-time headache has been relieved, expectations for transforming the island into a tourist attraction are high in local communities.

Joseph Kim, KCTV