Wildlife in the DMZ

South Korean soldiers open the gate for a North Korean train to pass near the DMZ in Goseong, South Korea. The train tracks connecting the two Koreas have been restored Photograph: Getty

The North Korean propaganda village of Gijungdong, in the northern section of the DMZ, August 22, 2007. This ribbon of land 2.4 miles wide and 155 miles long has been virtually untouched by humans since 1953 when the Korean war ended Photograph: Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters

The endangered Asiatic Black Bear (ursus thibetanus) in China in 2004. The bear also lives in the DMZ Photograph: O. Louis Mazzatenta/National Geographic/Getty

A black vulture, one of many bird species to be found in the DMZ Photograph: Valentina Petrova/AFP/Getty

South Korean soldiers stand guard at the military demarcation line in the DMZ in the border village Panmunjom, South Korea, June 6, 2008 Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA

Tour buses carry a South Korean delegation into South Korea through the DMZ at Kosung, South Korea. February 6, 2003 Photograph: Getty

A flock of wild ducks fly over barbed wire fences in Paju, near the DMZ dividing North and South Korea. November 27, 2006 Photograph: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP

Several black-faced spoonbills rest after feeding on fish and shrimp at dawn in Hong Kong's Mai Po nature reserve, January 9, 2001. The birds are also found in the DMZ Photograph: Vincent Yu/AP

A moose swims in a pond inside the DMZ in Chulwon, June 17, 2005 Photograph: Kwak-Sung-Ho/AFP/Getty

Cranes fly across the horizon during sunset at a nature reserve in Qiqihar in north-east China's Heilongjiang province, March 15, 2008. The red-crowned crane is one of many endangered species of birds found in the DMZ Photograph: AFP//Getty

A group of white-naped cranes at Cheonsu Bay, a migratory birds' haven on South Korea's west coast, February 21 2007. They prepare to migrate to Siberia after spending the winter in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and in the DMZ Photograph: Str/EPA