14 DAY TRIAL // When visiting a zoo, you normally expect to see wild or exotic animals, like lions, tigers, elephants or giraffes. But that is not necessarily valid in North Korea.
A zoo in the Asian country has recently added three Yorkshire terriers to its attractions. The pack of Yorkies has been introduced to Pyongyang Central Zoo and they are currently learning “several feats” to perform for visitors.
The Yorkies were bred in the Yorkshire county, England, in the 19th century in order to catch rats and mice by scuttling around clothing mills.
For people living in North Korea, Yorkshire terriers are not a common animal breed, so the decision to put them in a zoo might not be so far-fetched after all.
The state news agency has described the dogs for those who don’t know what they look like, “Each one has long hair – tan on its head and legs and blue grey on its body,” reports Daily Mail. It also mentions that the miniature dogs are approximately 22-24cm (8.5-9.5 inches) tall and weigh 2.5-3.5kg (5.5-7.7 pounds).
Pyongyang Central Zoo is located in suburban Pyongyang, was built in 1959 under the orders of dictator Kim Il-Sung, and holds a collection of more than 5,000 animals. However, the zoo has previously been described by travel publication Lonely Planet as having “woefully inadequate compounds.”
“Worst off are the big cats, nearly all gifts of long-dead communist big wigs around the world - the wonderful lions, tigers and leopards are kept in woefully inadequate compounds, and many have lost the plot as a result,” said publication stated.