Rediscovery of Otters on the Tsushima Islands, Japan by Trail Cameras

摘要: Otters are thought to be extinct in Japan, although they were widely distributed there until the early 20th century. Records of otters on Tsushima Islands, located between Kyushu and Korean Peninsula, found only two sources from about 1735 1809, has been no evidence their existence since middle 19th century now. We set infrared trail cameras monitor leopard cat northern island Tsushima. Otter(s) recorded by these four times, February 6 July 16, 2017 Tanohama area October 1 3, Sago island. This is first record an otter Japan last was made Kochi Prefecture 1979. The islands could not identified species level based footage feed cameras. Based historical information surrounding areas, origin have natural dispersal nearest habitat Eurasian otter.