The Eurasian otter born at the Seoul Children’s Grand Park Zoo. (Photo courtesy of Seoul Facilities Corporation)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on August 8 that twin Eurasian otters were born at the Children’s Grand Park Zoo in Gwangjin-gu on June 24. The birth is a significant event for conservation efforts, as the Eurasian otter was designated a natural monument in South Korea in 1982 and is classified as a critically endangered species.
Once common in the mountain streams of North Korea, the Eurasian otter’s population has declined due to environmental challenges, with the species now considered extinct in Japan. The parents of the newborn otters, named ‘Sudol’ (male) and ‘Dalsun’ (female), were rescued in late 2022 in Daejeon and Buyeo, barely a month old, and later donated to the Children’s Grand Park in June 2023.
The park has created a naturalistic, eco-friendly otter habitat to ensure the animals’ stable settlement, offering a model for urban zoos to support the preservation of endangered species. The birth of the twin otters highlights the potential for conservation and the nurturing of life even in urban settings.
The Eurasian otter born at the Seoul Children’s Grand Park Zoo. (Photo courtesy of Seoul Facilities Corporation)
The baby otters are currently being cared for in their enclosure under the mother’s watchful eye. Special diets, including live fish, are being provided to help the mother recover her strength and aid in nursing. The otters are expected to be available for public viewing in October, when visitors can observe them playing and swimming outside in the otter enclosure.
Seoul Facilities Corporation CEO, Kim Young, praised the successful breeding, emphasizing that it was the result of the park’s philosophy of respecting life and the dedicated care of the staff. To celebrate the birth, an online event for naming the twin otters will be held on the park’s Instagram starting August 12.
(Yonhap)
