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

Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 1 - 58 (April 2000)

Last Minute Notes
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Otter Stolen from Oakland Zoo

June 8^th, 2000

Hello everyone

On Monday night, someone broke into the Oakland Zoo and took one of our otters, Harriet. We house three otters at Oakland; Ozzie, age 13, Harriet, age 13 and their one offspring, Willow, 16 months. Ozzie and Harriet have lived together at Oakland for over 12 years. As of yet, to my knowledge, we do not have any substantial leads in the case. We have gotten an enormous amount of press coverage in the Bay Area, and are hoping someone somewhere has seen or heard something that will lead us to Harriet. Thanks to several donors, we currently have a $12,000 reward for information leading to her safe return. We are hopeful that someone thought she would be a unique pet, realize that she is in fact not, and return her. I will update you as we find out new info. Ozzie does not seem excessively disturbed by Harriet's absence or the encounter, however Willow was absolutely terrified on Tuesday, and hid most of the day. She was a little better today.

If by some chance anyone hears anything about Harriet, please let me or the Oakland Zoo know asap. Thank you.

Brenda Oswald
Otter Keeper, Oakland Zoo
510-632-9525

A NIGHTMARE FOR OTTERPARK AQUALUTRA

Otterpark AQUALUTRA is a beautiful 10 ha centre for natural and environmental education near the city of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) takes a leading role in the park, though many other animals that live in typical otter habitats can also be seen such as beavers, mink, polecat, roe deer, storks, waterfowl, sand martins, amphibians, water bound reptiles, and fresh water fish. In the exhibition building there are several audio-visual presentations. In a very short time, the park has become the biggest attraction in the city of Leeuwarden, and one of the major attractions in the province of Friesland.

In one part of the park visitors are not allowed. This is the breeding centre for otters. Otterpark AQUALUTRA has been quite successful in breeding Eurasian otters. During the EAZA/EEP conference in Saumur in 1996 the Otterpark was chosen as the new studbook keeper for Lutra lutra.

Behind the scenes, the Otterpark and its founder, the Dutch Otter station Foundation (Stichting Otterstation Nederland), have been very successful in undertaking research on otters and promoting and undertaking recovery work on existing wetlands, as well as the development of new wetlands. This has lead to a situation in which the otter can be re-introduced again in the northern part of the Netherlands. Here, a wetland area of more than 12,000 ha has been restored and built. This area has been designated as the first re-introduction site. Next year, it is likely that the first otters will be released in this area.

Although there has been, and still is, a lot of success a lot of bad luck has also dogged the Otterpark. In 1992, the tender for building the park completely failed. The contractor with the lowest bid had a price 30% above the estimated price. It was obvious that all contractors had sat together and arranged their prices in a way convenient for themselves. They hoped that our government would bridge the gap between their price and the estimated building costs. The government would not do so and we decided not to go on with these contractors. A lot of hassle came out of this. The end of the story was that, half a year later, we found a new contractor with a good price, however, it resulted in the loss of our first year of income (i.e. 1993). One year later than planned, we opened our gates to visitors. During this period we lost more than 1 million guilders (approximately $485,000). In all the years following, we did not manage to get rid of this extra financial burden and it crippled our possibilities to grow and attract more visitors. Though there were also years of profit, these were too few to remove the extra burden.

At the beginning of this year (2000) we had the possibility to change all this with the help of a new financier. The perspective was fine, but behind the scenes some dark forces were awakened and frustrated this process. The City Council of Leeuwarden and the Province of Friesland want a big theme park on our location, and want the Otterpark to become a part of this. We have said that we are interested in co-operating, but only with the preservation of our identity. Beginning this year, it appeared that this would not be possible; we had to give up our identity. This was the prelude to something I still cannot believe really happened! Two of the then board members, and one that resigned as a member at the beginning of this year, called for a board meeting behind the backs of three other board members and myself. In this meeting they decided to ask the court to declare both the Otterpark and our Foundation bankrupt. With falsified papers they convinced the court that a bankruptcy for both organisations was necessary. They misused the weak financial position of the Otterpark. I had to hear about these bankruptcies from a journalist! Soon it became clear to me that these three people made mistakes in the procedures. Our lawyer advised us to go to court to challenge these unlawful bankruptcies, and this we duly did. In court, it very soon became apparent that we would win this case. Almost three weeks after the bankruptcies they were annulled by the judge. This, of course, was an enormous relief for us all! During all these weeks there was a lot of news about the case in the media. In part as one of the former board members is still a member of the Dutch Parliament! It seems that the reason for asking for these bankruptcies was all to do with the completion of the new theme park, as it would have been very easy and cheap to incorporate the Otterpark in this new theme park following bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, the damage has been done. There was a lot of bad publicity and in the minds of a lot of potential visitors to the Otterpark there is still the idea that the Otterpark is not open anymore, yet it has been open all the time. It is much more difficult to have good news published in the media than bad news! Financially, these bankruptcies have given us an extra loss. Going to court cost quite a lot of money. Besides that, we notice a decrease now in our visitor numbers of more than 10%! All these troubles have urged us to make a new business plan and to look at new opportunities.

In the short run, we are in desperate need of all kinds of financial contributions. Sponsors are very welcome to help us back on our feet again. If this request appeals to you, you can help us by making a financial contribution to our giro bank account (Postbank; account number 34.12.176) in the name of the Stichting Otterstation Nederland, in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. All contributions, big or small, are very welcome! By helping us you help us go on with our important work!

Addy de Jongh,
Director, Otterpark AQUALUTRA

RESÚMEN: UNA PESADILLA PARA EL PARQUE DE NUTRIAS AQUALUTRA

El parque AQUALUTRA para nutrias es un centro para la educación natural y ambiental cercano a la ciudad de Leeuwarden en Holanda. La nutria euroasiática (Lutra lutra) es el actor principal, pero pueden observarse otros animales. Rápidamente el parque se ha vuelto la mayor atracción de la ciudad de Leeuwarden, y una de las mayores de la provincia de Friesland. En un sector del parque, el centro de cría de nutrias, no está permitida la presencia de visitantes. El parque ha sido muy exitoso en la cría de nutrias euroasiáticas. A pesar del éxito del parque, el mismo ha corrido con mucha mala suerte. En 1992 la licitación para su construcción falló por completo. El contratista con la oferta más económica presentó un precio un 30% por encima de lo previsto, evidentemente debido a un acuerdo entre los contratistas. Se tardó medio año en encontrar uno nuevo que solicitara un precio adecuado, pero se perdieron las ganancias correspondientes al primer año de ingresos (1993). Las puertas se abrieron para los visitantes un año después de lo previsto. La consecuente perdida económica no ha sido posible revertirla aún. A principios de este año, tuvimos una buena oportunidad para que un nuevo financiador nos permitiera cambiar esta situación, pero el proceso se vio frustrado. El concejo de la ciudad y la provincia querían un gran parque temático en nuestro lugar, y que el parque de nutrias se volviera una parte del mismo. Nosotros estuvimos dispuestos a colaborar, en la medida en que se preservara nuestra identidad, lo que a principios de este año no parecía posible. Dos de los miembros en ese entonces del equipo directive de parque, y uno que había renunciado, llamaron a una reunión a espaldas mías y de los otros 3 miembros del equipo, y decidieron pedir ante la corte que se diera al parque y a nuestra fundación en bancarrota. Utilizando papeles falsos y la débil posición económica del parque, convencieron a la corte de que esto era lo adecuado. Yo me enteré por la prensa y finalmente logramos anular la decisión judicial, pero durarite el proceso hubo mucha prensa al respecto, entre otras cosas debido a uno de los miembros del equipo, también lo es del parlamento. Aparentemente todo este movimiento estuvo ligado a la creación del nuevo parque temático. Sin embargo, el daño ha sido hecho, dada la prensa en contra, muchos visitantes potenciales consideran que AQUALUTRA permanece cerrado (a pesar de que ha estado abierto todo el tiempo). Todo esto (sumado a los costos del proceso judicial) ha empeorado aún más nuestra situación económica, por lo que estamos en búsqueda desesperada de contribuciones fmancieras. Se pueden hacer contribuciones (giros) a nuestra cuenta bancaria 34.12.176 (Postbank) a favor de Stichting Otterstation Nederland en Leeuwarden, Holanda. Todas la contribuciones, grandes o pequeñas, serán muy bienvenidas.

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