Chalko (Trap)

Chalko is a kind of snare used to tie up and catch animals. It was also called chau, chagae, or eumchangae, and depending on the intended prey, it was referred to as sparrow changae or pheasant changae. Chalko is similar to changae in shape, but its entire body is made of iron. A circular plate of iron is placed at the center of an oval-shaped frame. On both ends of the frame are springs connected to sharp sawteeth. It was placed at the corner of a path frequented by animals and camouflaged with leaves. If an animal stepped on the center of chalko, the horseshoe-shaped sawteeth fastened tightly to the springs would spring out and close immediately to tighten around a body part of the animal such as the ankle. In the present day, chalko is made of sturdy and sharpened metal, preventing the trapped animal from escaping, and leaving the animal with lethal injuries.