Microplastics Detected in Kinmen Eurasian Otter Feces; Scholars Call for Long-term Monitoring
Microplastics have been detected in the feces of Eurasian otters in Kinmen, according to a survey by Taipei Zoo. This suggests widespread environmental pollution and potential impacts on the food chain. Scholars are calling for increased public awareness of microplastic issues and long-term environmental monitoring.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 17:51
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Wen-Jung, Kinmen, 12th) According to a survey by Taipei Zoo, microplastic pollution has been detected in the feces of Eurasian otters in Kinmen, and long-term monitoring to track the spread of microplastics is recommended. Scholar Chang-Liao Nien-Hung stated that the detection of microplastics in a flagship species hopes to raise public awareness of microplastic issues.
Kinmen National Park Headquarters today held its 114th annual conservation research results presentation, inviting Chang-Liao Nien-Hung, the executive of Taipei Zoo's otter survey project, to report on the results of the "Kinmen Eurasian Otter Diet and Ecological Survey."
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung told a Central News Agency reporter that Taipei Zoo's method for surveying otter populations involves collecting otter feces quarterly, recording GPS coordinates, extracting DNA from the feces for individual otter identification and dietary analysis.
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung pointed out that the microplastic item was jointly executed with Assistant Professor Yang Wen-Ta's team from the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Ilan University, to investigate whether microplastics interfere with otter survival. The aim was to understand not only issues related to other organisms in the otter's hunting environment but also whether non-biological environmental factors like microplastics exist in otter feces and habitats.
According to the report, a total of 105 Eurasian otter fecal samples were collected during the project, of which 16 were detected with microplastic pollution. Among the 36 water samples collected from aquatic environments, as many as 30 samples were found to contain microplastics.
The detected microplastics were mostly low-density polyethylene, which is the main material for petrochemical products such as shopping bags, garbage bags, food packaging films, and cling film.
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung stated that the results from water samples and individual otter feces indicate that the pollution source is widely present in the environment, with potential risks of entering the food chain and accumulating in indicator species. "The detection of microplastics in a flagship, star species like the otter, we hope, can raise public awareness of microplastic issues, including actions to reduce plastic use, and investing more resources into researching the specific impacts of microplastics on wildlife."
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung pointed out that environmental background data still needs to be clarified to accurately determine the source of microplastics. He suggested that public departments regularly collect seasonal otter feces and environmental samples in key otter habitat watersheds, such as Jinsha River, Qianpu River, and Wujiang River, and establish a long-term database to accumulate more complete time-series data, fully tracking potential harm and risks to otters and other wildlife. (Editor: Chang Ya-Ching) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Wu Wen-Jung, Kinmen, 12th) According to a survey by Taipei Zoo, microplastic pollution has been detected in the feces of Eurasian otters in Kinmen, and long-term monitoring to track the spread of microplastics is recommended. Scholar Chang-Liao Nien-Hung stated that the detection of microplastics in a flagship species hopes to raise public awareness of microplastic issues.
Kinmen National Park Headquarters today held its 114th annual conservation research results presentation, inviting Chang-Liao Nien-Hung, the executive of Taipei Zoo's otter survey project, to report on the results of the "Kinmen Eurasian Otter Diet and Ecological Survey."
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung told a Central News Agency reporter that Taipei Zoo's method for surveying otter populations involves collecting otter feces quarterly, recording GPS coordinates, extracting DNA from the feces for individual otter identification and dietary analysis.
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung pointed out that the microplastic item was jointly executed with Assistant Professor Yang Wen-Ta's team from the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Ilan University, to investigate whether microplastics interfere with otter survival. The aim was to understand not only issues related to other organisms in the otter's hunting environment but also whether non-biological environmental factors like microplastics exist in otter feces and habitats.
According to the report, a total of 105 Eurasian otter fecal samples were collected during the project, of which 16 were detected with microplastic pollution. Among the 36 water samples collected from aquatic environments, as many as 30 samples were found to contain microplastics.
The detected microplastics were mostly low-density polyethylene, which is the main material for petrochemical products such as shopping bags, garbage bags, food packaging films, and cling film.
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung stated that the results from water samples and individual otter feces indicate that the pollution source is widely present in the environment, with potential risks of entering the food chain and accumulating in indicator species. "The detection of microplastics in a flagship, star species like the otter, we hope, can raise public awareness of microplastic issues, including actions to reduce plastic use, and investing more resources into researching the specific impacts of microplastics on wildlife."
Chang-Liao Nien-Hung pointed out that environmental background data still needs to be clarified to accurately determine the source of microplastics. He suggested that public departments regularly collect seasonal otter feces and environmental samples in key otter habitat watersheds, such as Jinsha River, Qianpu River, and Wujiang River, and establish a long-term database to accumulate more complete time-series data, fully tracking potential harm and risks to otters and other wildlife. (Editor: Chang Ya-Ching) 1150512
Stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.