PUBLISH is pleased to announce that News Penguin has selected the black-headed gull as August’s "Endangered Species of the Month", highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect the species.

Known for its unique black head and white body, the black-headed gull is a migratory member of the gull family that inhabits  mudflats, where it feeds on invertebrates, small fish, shrimp, and crabs.

In South Korea, the bird breeds in groups on the mudflats of the western and southern coasts of the country. However, it is threatened faces threats from extensive development projects such as the reclamation of mudflats. Classified as a Class II endangered wild animal by the Ministry of Environment, it also holds a "Vulnerable" status on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated global population of just 22,000.

The bird has been featured in a series of commemorative postage stamps featuring endangered seabirds, issued by the Korean Postal Service. The series includes other birds like the black-faced spoonbill, the Eurasian oystercatcher, and the Far Eastern curlew.

The bird also makes an appearance in the film "Sura," currently showing in independent theaters across the country. Directed by Hwang Yoon, the film depicts the plight of the Sura mudflats in the face of the Saemangeum Reclamation Project.

The "Endangered Species of the Month" campain has thus far highlighted several endangered species, such as the Suwon tree frog, the banded houndshark, and the Korean fir, among others.

PUBLISH is proud to support News Penguin in its efforts to protect the world’s biodiversity by minting and distributing NFTs of digital artworks depicting the endangered species.