The officials of the Ministry visited the area after getting information that otters are living in the weir and found fishes that seemed to be left by otters on a structure of sluice gate. They also successfully made a video recording and photographs of otters living in the area at 4:30PM on January 31st.   

Dr. Sungyong Han, Head of Korea Otters Research Center as well as Head of North East Asia in the Otters Experts Group of IUCN, watched the video and photographs and said that the otters living in the area were grown-up ones and looked healthy.    

That day, the otters were perched on the structure of sluice gate and were taking a rest peacefully on a sunny day after eating the fishes they caught.  

In general, otters, who belong to the family of weasels, live in the areas where water is clean and feeds are abundant. They are considered to be one of the species that show the soundness of river ecosystem. 

On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment of Japan declared in September 2012 that otters had not been found for the last 30 years and thus are considered as one of the extinct animals in Japan. 

Furthermore, on January 25, 26 and 27, wild water deers, who were feeding on grass and running in a field, were captured on a video and photo camera in Yipo Weir and Damnamri Island.  .

It is expected that there will be more animals and plants such as river deers to be found along the four major rivers as their surrounding environment is being gradually restored