South Korean documentary film “Sanctuary” focuses on the activists of a bunch of people dedicated to providing a sanctuary for wildlife animals in South Korea. While they care a lot about saving and taking care of those unfortunate animals out there, they are also well aware of the limits of their diligent efforts, and it is touching to see how they keep going despite the frequent moments of considerable emotional toil during their work.

The documentary mainly revolves around Cheongju Zoo, which has been one of a very few wildlife animal sanctuaries in South Korea thanks to a lot of longtime efforts from its staff members including Kim Jeong-ho, who has worked there as one of its chief veterinarians. While they take care of a number of different animals in the zoo, they also handle numerous wildlife animals rescued for various reasons, and a small portion of these rescued animals are allowed to stay in the zoo because it was decided that they cannot possibly be released back into their wildlife.

We also see how several activists and experts work here and there in South Korea. The opening scene of the documentary shows the rescue of three water deer who happen to be stuck in a ditch of which they cannot get out for themselves, and, not so surprisingly, it turns out to be quite difficult to corner and then catch them all. At least, all of these water deer are eventually captured, and we later see them released into a safer place.

Via an activist named Choi Tae-goo, the documentary shows some grim moments you will not easily forget. As some of you know, there have been numerous bear farms in South Korea mainly for their gall which has incidentally been known as a precious oriental medicine, and I remember well when I saw a shocking TV news report on the mistreatment on those poor bears a long time ago. Sadly, this alarming trend has been continued even at this point, and we see a shabby shack where a couple of bears have miserably lived inside their dirty cages. It is really relieving for us to see that these two bears are eventually sent to the Cheongjoo Zoo for their protection and welfare, and they soon get much better than before thanks to the good care from its staff members.

And the documentary continues to show how vulnerable those wildlife animals often are due to human beings. At one point, the activists go to a wild field where they collect a heap of dead birds, and we come to learn later that this resulted from the deliberate poisoning by some mean dude. In addition, there is also a big vulture which becomes quite sick after eating some of these poisoned birds, and you will be saddened as watching this big bird going through a very difficult time before its eventual recovery.

And we see many other heartbreaking cases. In case of one eagle owl, its left wing is seriously damaged, and it is subsequently euthanized because it cannot be recovered and then released back to wildlife. We also see a heron who also gets severely injured in one of its wings due to some wire trap, and its rescuers have no choice but to end its immense pain as soon as possible.

Knowing well that they cannot possibly keep or save all those animals rescued by them, the staff members of the Cheongjoo Zoo try to be really considerate about making the important decisions of life and death on those rescued animals, and their decision-making process is always tricky for all of them. As treating those rescued animals for years, they cannot help but feel emotionally attached to them, so it is sometime difficult to be objective in making their decisions, and it goes without saying that some of their difficult decisions emotionally affect them from time to time. At one point, Dr. Kim flatly says in front of the camera that he has tried to stop caring as much as possible, but it only becomes more evident to us that he does care a lot nonetheless.

At least, things are not always depressing and demanding for him and others in the zoo because of the animals who have been lucky under their sincere care. In case of a female raccoon dog named Clara, it is particularly friendly to one of its staff members, and you may smile a bit as watching this little raccoon dog behaving like your average pet dog. When the zoo is opened for visitors, the mood becomes more cheerful than before, and we see Dr. Kim humorously introducing one of the Siberian tigers under his care.

We also see a little shrine dedicated to a number of animals who eventually passed away in the zoo. Regardless of how these animals felt about their lives in the zoo, it is clear that they did mean a lot to the staff members of the zoo. Yes, W.G. Sebald once said “Men and animals regard each other across a gulf of mutual incomprehension”, but it is still poignant to see the names of these deceased animals in the shrine nonetheless.

Overall, “Sanctuary” is an engaging documentary which handles its main subject with enough care and respect, and director Wang Min-cheol did a commendable job of presenting its sincere moments without any cheap sentimentality. To be frank with you, I do not like going to zoo much, but the documentary makes me appreciate some of its valuable aspects in the end, and I will certainly think of the documentary again if I ever happen to visit a zoo someday.