IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
© IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 10 Pages 1 - 56 (October 1994)

From the Chairman's Desk
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I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the outgoing Chairperson of the Otter Specialist Group (OSG), Dr. Pat Foster-Turley for her untiring efforts in the past to make the OSG one of the most active Specialist Groups in the IUCN. It was on Pat's recommendation that I was able to step into her shoes and become the Chairperson for the OSG during the triennium commencing from July 1994. All the members of the OSG are extremely grateful to Pat for the excellent work she did during the past, first as the Vice-Chairperson (1987-1989) and then as the Chairperson (1990-1993). On behalf of the OSG, I would like to wish Pat all the very best in her new career as the coordinator of the United States - Asia Environment Program, based in Washington DC.

It was Pat as the Chairperson of the OSG who was instrumental in drawing up the Otter Action Plan with the view to enhancing the conservation of otters and their habitats on a global scale. The Action Plan turned out to be a most useful document in identifying the current status of the otter species and the threats facing them in the wild. It also identified areas of darkness where hardly any recent information exists as far as the status of the otters is concerned. However, despite this valiant effort on the part of Pat and the members of the OSG, the Action Plan could not be implemented in the absence of funds. This is just another example of the well known principal that scientific and technological expertise is worthless in the final analysis, if the money, manpower and material required to implement the expertise is absent.

Nevertheless, not everything is doom and gloom in the OSG. Despite all odds, the OSG was able to hold the VI. International Otter Symposium in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1993 which was attended by over 40 participants from 12 countries. It was largely due to the patient efforts of Dr. Dave Rowe-Rowe that made this symposium a reality. Pat was sadly missed at this symposium as she was kept busy in her new position in USA. Her absence considerably hindered the OSG's efforts at seeking ways to raise funds. The task has fallen on my shoulders now and I am determining to do my best to seek funds from any source to implement parts of the OSG Action Plan in the coming years. In this endeavour, I will certainly need your help and I will rely on your goodwill and support to achieve some degree of success. I am sure everyone will do his/her best to help me in this difficult task.

There is in fact some money left from Sir Peter Scott fund at the IUCN which could be used to run some projects on a priority basis. At the Symposium in Pietermaritzburg, it was felt that much remains to be done in the developing world and hence there is an urgent need to identify the projects and the personnel in the countries so that a number of projects on modest funding could be carried out. In the guise of development, the attended environmental problems such as pollution, deforestation, wetland conversion etc. are undermining the conservation of otters and their habitats, especially in the developing world. Human population growth and the genuine aspirations of the poor for an enhanced life style are also leading to the erosion of otter habitats across much of the developing countries. In countries such as Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam and Laos, there is a paucity of information on the status of otters. Here much of the basic research needs to be carried out in order to assess the status of otters. Members of the OSG in South America and Africa too will need substantial funds to carry out management-orientated research on otters and their habitats.

At present, I am exploring the possibility of holding a workshop on the Asian otters. The first circular that was sent to the OSG members referred to the Huay Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand as a possible venue for this workshop, scheduled for February 1995. However, the venue has been changed and it is proposed to hold this workshop in Dehra Dun, Uttar Pradesh (India) at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) given the facilities available here. Members will be informed of the new date. It is hoped that many OSG members would be able to participate at this workshop and make it a success.

Padma K. da SILVA

Department of Zoology,
University of Peradeniya,
Peradenyia,
Sri Lanka

hi the course of the Leeuwarden meeting of the European section of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group the membership list of this group was reviewed and actualised for the 1994-1996 triennium. The list includes the addresses, phone and fax numbers of all members of the group. A copy of the list can be ordered from the re-elected coordinator under the address:

Claus Reuther,Aktion Fischotterschutz e.V., OTTER-ZENTRUM, D-29386 Hankensbüttel,Germany

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