The heavily fortified DMZ that divides North and South Korea has unexpectedly become a sanctuary for wildlife.

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea is one of the world's most militarized borders. This 160-mile stretch is lined with fences, landmines, and is mostly devoid of human presence.

However, this isolation has unintentionally made the area a sanctuary for diverse wildlife. For the first time, Google released street view images of the DMZ, offering a rare look at the flora and fauna thriving in this deserted land.

These images are part of a collaborative project with several Korean institutions, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Korean War armistice, which ended hostilities but left the war technically unresolved as no peace treaty was signed.

The project provides a 'virtual tour' using Google’s street view, showcasing cultural landmarks and heritage sites near the DMZ, such as ruined buildings and military bunkers from the war.

Perhaps the most astonishing discovery is the presence of over 6,100 species flourishing in the DMZ, including reptiles, birds, and various plant life.

According to Google, nearly 38% of Korea’s 267 endangered species reside within the DMZ.

"Following the Korean War, the DMZ experienced minimal human disruption for over 70 years, allowing nature to heal on its own," Google explains. "As a result, it has developed a unique ecosystem not seen in urban areas, becoming a true haven for wildlife."

The DMZ’s wildlife includes endangered mountain goats residing in the rocky mountains, musk deer with long tusks in ancient forests, otters swimming along the river that separates the two Koreas, and endangered golden eagles, which often winter in border areas where local residents feed them.

Many of the photographs were taken by unmanned cameras set up by South Korea’s National Institute of Ecology. In 2019, one of these cameras captured an image of a young Asiatic black bear for the first time in 20 years, much to the delight of researchers who had been concerned about the endangered species' decline due to poaching and habitat loss.

Seung-ho Lee, president of the DMZ Forum, a group dedicated to preserving the area’s ecological and cultural heritage, told Dinogo in 2019 that the DMZ had become a critical stop for migratory birds, as worsening conditions on both sides of the border had caused destruction of habitats. Logging and flooding in North Korea, and urban sprawl and pollution in South Korea, had further fragmented wildlife habitats, he explained.

"We refer to this area as an accidental paradise," he remarked at the time.

The Google images also reveal untouched, biodiverse landscapes. Street view users can explore the Yongneup high moor, with its vast grassy expanses teeming with wetland vegetation, or the Hantan River Gorge, where turquoise waters wind through towering granite cliffs.

For decades, voices from both Koreas and international environmental groups have advocated for the DMZ’s conservation. However, achieving this goal is challenging, as it requires cooperation between both Seoul and Pyongyang.

Recent progress has been made, with former South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledging in 2018 to transform the DMZ into a "peace zone." The following year, South Korea launched the first of three "peace trails" along the DMZ, offering a limited number of visitors a chance to hike past observation posts and barbed-wire fences.

However, tensions have escalated since then, particularly in 2022, when North Korea launched an unprecedented number of missiles, coinciding with the inauguration of a new South Korean president.