A South Korean research team has successfully helped an Asiatic black bear give birth to a cub through artificial insemination.
A little Asiatic black bear cub is carefully descending from a tree and plays in its mother's arms.
The baby bear has been born through artificial insemination for the first time in the world.
Two Asiatic black bears gave birth to a cub each in February but one of the cubs died in early May due to unknown reasons.
The Asiatic black bear is a first-grade endangered species.
The research team of a national species restoration institute under the state-run Korea National Park Service said it began the artificial fertilization project in 2015 and inseminated four female Asiatic black bears last July.
But the project soon ran into a brick wall due to the bear's unique biological dispositions, including winter hibernation, as well as delayed implantation.
The successful results came three years after the team exchanged a wide range of relevant information and data with experts at home and abroad.
The institute added that the newly-born cub will be released to nature in the upcoming fall after getting nature adjustment training.
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[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN PLUS 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
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