A Pair of Natural Monument Otters Released Back into the Wild in Gyeonggi-do after Treatment and Adaptation Training

On the 2nd, the Gyeonggi-do Wildlife Rescue and Management Center released two otters back into the wild after completing their treatment and rehabilitation training.

Otters are animals currently protected as Class 1 endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment and as Natural Monument No. 330, due to a sharp decline in their population caused by past overhunting for fur and river development.

In July last year, the Gyeonggi-do Wildlife Rescue and Management Center rescued two baby otters suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion by the roadside in Anseong and Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, and provided primary treatment with fluids and medication in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), along with artificial nursing.

Considering that otters begin active hunting from April, the center selected Hwaseong Bibong Wetland as a candidate habitat after consulting experts, and released the two otters into the wild on this day.

Lee Yeon-sook, Director of the Animal Welfare Division of Gyeonggi-do, said, "Gyeonggi-do operates two wildlife rescue and management centers (Pyeongtaek, Yeoncheon) and actively responds to the rescue and treatment of wildlife. However, as habitats for wildlife are decreasing due to development in many areas, we will make greater efforts to preserve the ecological environment."

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