Dok do

Dok-do is a small, rocky island in the north-eastern East Sea lying about 15 km off the western coast of South Korea. South Korea and Japan are fighting because Japan claims that the island is their territory, but not much evidence of their claim has been found. It rises to a height of 85 m and has an area of 18 ha. Based on surveys conducted in 1997 and 1998, the site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports small numbers of breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills and vulnerable Chinese egrets. The island has been classified as one of South Korea’s Natural Monuments. The main threat to the birds is from human disturbance.