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IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
© IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 1 - 56 (April
2003)
Abstracts
Preserved Versus Degraded Coastal Environments: A Case Study
Of The Neotropical Otter In The Environmental Protection Area Of
Anhatomirim, Southern Brazil
Pages 6 - 18
Gisele G. Alarcon, Paolo C. Simões-Lopes
Abstract
In Brazil, the data available on the ecology of the Neotropical
otter in marine-coastal areas are scarce. The relationship between their spraint
and environmental quality has been little studied. The Environmental Protection
Area (APA) of Anhatomirim extends over about 12 km of the North Bay of Florianopolis.
In this area two studies were carried out, one in May/August 2000 and the other
from January 2001 to January 2002. In the first stage, otter signs and environmental
characteristics were registered; the spraints were collected and the rivers and
sign sites were georeferenced. In the second stage, a preserved and a non-preserved
strip with high anthropological influence were inspected periodically. The methodological
procedure was the same as that used in the first stage. Along preserved rivers
(13%), footprints, excavations and burrows were all found, whilst at rivers with
a low degree of degradation (41%), both footprints and excavations were found
but not burrows. Of the 474 spraints collected, 60% were from the preserved area.
In the degraded area, 37% of the spraints were located in a strip between 100
and 150m from an urban nucleus. In the coastal area of this APA, the Neotropical
otter is very flexible with a high capacity to survive impacts, since these don't
directly affect the trophic chain and impede the making of burrows.
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (328 K)
New Findings On Otters In Guinea-Bissau
Pages 19 - 27 (Report)
Claus Reuther, Mark Ehlers, Mario Schuhmann, Beate Kalz, Jorns Fickel
Abstract
To date, only Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis)
presence has been reported for Guinea-Bissau. The western border of the distribution
range for another sub-Saharan otter species, the spotted-necked otter (Lutra
maculicollis), seemed to be formed by the southeastern neighbouring country
of Guinea. The accidental catch of a specimen of L. maculicollis, and
the results of an initial field survey, provide evidence that this species also
occurs in Guinea-Bissau. Recommendations are given on how to improve knowledge
on the distribution of the two otter species in this region, and how to improve
the protection of otters in Guinea-Bissau.
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (316 K)
Giant Otter Project in Peru Field Trip and Activity Report - 2002
Pages 28 - 34 (Report)
Jessica Groenendijk, Frank Hajek
Abstract
The project 'Status, habitat, behaviour and conservation
of Giant Otters in Peru' of the Frankfurt Zoological Society - Help for
Threatened Wildlife (FZS) is now in its 14th year; progress
has been described continually in the IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin. This
report covers the Manu Biosphere Reserve Population Census,
Small River Research: Palma Real And Patuyacu,
Sandoval Environmental Education Programme and
Giant Otter Methodology Standardisation Course
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (64 K)
Assessing The Welfare Of Captive Asian
Small-Clawed Otters (Amblonyx cinereus): Can Inductive Methods
Play A Part?
Pages 35 - 41 (Report)
Lesley C. Wright
Abstract
A large number of factors need to be taken into account when assessing
an animal's welfare under field conditions. Grounded Theory, an
inductive method, might be of use in correlating these factors with the
results of scientific studies to produce a freely available IT tool that
could be used by relatively untrained persons to assess the welfare of
animals. This ongoing work is intended to establish whether inductive
techniques can contribute to welfare assessment of captive Asian
Small-Clawed Otters (Amblonyx cinereus).
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (57 K)
Follow Up to a Rehabilitation of Giant
Otter Cubs in Colombia
Pages 42 - 44 (Report)
Juan Ricardo Gómez Serrano
Abstract
The successful rehabilitation of two Giant Otter (Pteronura
brasiliensis)
cubs formerly kept as pets, and factors influencing this success are
reviewed.
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (80 K)
Protecting Fish Farms from Predation by
the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in the Limousin Region of
Central France: First Results
Pages 45 - 48 (Report)
Frédéric Leblanc
Abstract:
This paper describes the first results of a two-year study on methods
suitable for preventing predation of fish farm stock by the Eurasian
otter (Lutra lutra). The work has allowed a valuable insight into
the behavioural characteristics of otters that frequent fish farms.
Contents | Full
Text + Links | PDF (222 K)
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