The Genheyuan National Wetland Park in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has seen significant improvement in its ecological environment as infrared cameras in the park frequently capture footage of otters.

Otters are highly sensitive to water quality when they choose a place to settle. Therefore, their appearance is a sign of good water quality.

Out of the 13 species of otters, three of them live in China. They are the Eurasian, the smooth-coated, and the Asian small-clawed otter. Otters are under second-class state protection in China.

Genheyuan National Wetland Park lies in the Greater Khingan Mountains. Lumbering has been forbidden here since 2015. In recent years, it has seen more and more wildlife finding their home here as the ecological environment improves.

(Cover images: Asian small-clawed otter via VCG.)

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