They total nearly 1,700 of some 200 species -- 72 species of animals, 35 species of fowls, 29 species of amphibious reptiles and 80 species of fishes.

Included in the gifts, sent to him on the occasions of his birthday and other major holidays of the Korean people, are horses of Orlov breed from former Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in Juche 92 (2003), eight horses of a Mongolian breed from former Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar in 2007, a parrot with gray-red train from Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 1988 and Lesser Bush Baby and other animals from Zimbabwean President Robert G. Mugabe in 1985.

Jonas Wahlstrom, director of the Skansen Aquarium in Sweden, since he sent gift animals to stuff an animal museum in Korea in 1985, has sent more than 160 species of rare animals to him in ten or more installments.

Choe Su Jin, general manager of the Heilongjiang Provincial National Economic Development Company of China, sent a pair of white tigers to him in 2004.

Among the overseas Koreans who sent gifts to him is also Choe Chong San who was vice-chairman of the General Association of Koreans in China.