Worshipped as the ‘scarab’ by the Ancient Egyptians, the dung beetle plays a remarkable part in the maintenance and improvement of the pastural ecosystem. Also known as tunnellers and rollers, they feed exclusively on dung, burying it in order to provide a home for their young.

Now 200 of the insects are being taken from Mongolia to South Korea in order to be re-introduced into the local eco-system.

As a result of pesticides and fertilizers and modern trends in livestock farming in the 1970’s the dung beetles have vanished in South Korea. It is believed that they have been extinct for three decades.

The Mongolian dung beetles will be bred at a entomology centre before being released into the wild.