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

Volume 22 Issue 1 Pages 1 - 44 (April 2005)

Call for Information
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• Searching for Otter Skin (with Hairs) Samples
• Otters Preying on Turtles
• Otters and Fish Farms
• Looking for Masters Degree Otter Project in Switzerland
• DNA and Chemical Compositon of Spraints - Kinmen, China
• Unusual Otter Mating Behaviour!

Searching for Otter Skin (with Hairs) Samples

Dear colleagues,

We are currently working on a project called “Comparative aspects of hair and hair coat characteristics in the Lutrinae”. A part of this project is to study the hair density of the Lutrinae. We would like to verify the existing information for Lutra lutra, Lontra canadensis and Enhydra lutris and to get information about the hair densities from the other otter species. It is also important to compare data obtained by the same method.

For this study we will need samples from fresh or frozen dead animals. Samples of Lutra lutra are available here in Germany and we are now looking for samples of the other otter species. The samples we need are small skin sections (about 10cm²) from a few individuals. Best are samples from wild animals but samples from zoos are also very useful, especially from zoos situated within the natural distribution range of the species.

If you can provide such samples now or within the next year please contact us. All expenses (material, postage, mailing) will be paid. To meet the CITES regulations for samples, we will support you with the paper work (export and import licences).

If you are a zoo in Germany or in a neighbouring country and have a dead otter (other than Lutra lutra) there could be the possibility that we collect the samples ourselves in order to spare you some work.

We guarantee that your contribution will be acknowledged in any publication in which your samples are used, and that you will receive a copy of such publications as soon as they are available.

Yours sincerely

Rachel Kuhn
PhD Student
e-mail: rachelkuhn@yahoo.fr

Otters Preying on Turtles

Dear Colleagues,

I would greatly appreciate, if somebody could gave me any published or personal information on the following questions.

1. Are there data (outside Ukraine) about Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) predation on European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)? Data on adults or eggs, occasional or large number preadation would also be interesting.
2. Are similar data on other turtle species, i.e. on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), or invasive Trachemys scripta, etc. available?
3. Are there similar data available from other otter species on other turtle species?

Grateful for any help,
József Lanszki
University of Kaposvár
Ecological Research Group
lanszki@mail.atk.u-kaposvar.hu

Otters and Fish Farms

Dear colleagues,

I would appreciate if somebody can help us to solve the problem.

In brief: the fish farm reported that otter is causing great damage during winter period. Inspector noticed many trails and even one dead body of young otter was found.

Management of fish farm told that nearly 50 to 80 specimens of otters have been seen during the winter. Fish farm covers about 400 hectare and produce from 120 to 150 tons per year. In fact it is not a modern fish farm, there is no special equipment and 15 workers do the job manually. Now the management demands the compensation for damage. The questions are:

1. Is it possible that so many specimens of otter live on the area of 400 hectare?
2. What is the real amount of actual damage caused by otter (protected species)?

Can you recommend any preventing measures?

Thanks for any information.

Regards,
Katica Bezuh, nature protection nature inspector
Ministry of Culture
Nature protection division
katica.bezuh@min-kulture.hr

Looking for Masters Degree Otter Project in Switzerland

Hello,

I'm a third year student in biology at the university of Geneva. I've always been interested in otters and I would like to carry on my training studying this animal. Do you know people who offer master work with otter (especially the Eurasian otter), or organisations proposing a field work linked to this animal?

I asked Jean-Marc Weber about master's works or scientific's project on the Eurasian otter here in Switzerland but he told me that nothing is planned now. He also suggests me that I should contact you and that you will know where to reorient my request.

Thank you for your attention.

Kind regards
D.Ermacora
David Ermacora [ermacor7@etu.unige.ch]

DNA and Chemical Compositon of Spraints - Kinmen, China

I'm living on a small island called Kinmen near the mainland of China. The island is under the jurisdiction of the Taiwan goverment. Dr.Lee (National Taiwan University) has studied the otters here.
This year we have a project to answer the question "how many otters are actually on our island?" We've used two methods to study the question:

1. DNA analysis to identify samples from different zone's otter spraints
2. chemical analysis compounds from different zone's otter spraints

We need to find references about compounds identify (otter spraints). Can you help us to find these papers (just paper list).

For information our island area is about 150 km2, people population about 50,000. In my island (my home town), the island area is so small that the otters live very close to people's living places.

Recently, I've found otters spraints under a bridge, which is only 10 meters far from a hospital. The hospital is the biggest in Kinmen Island.

But there were two otters, which died in a traffic accident in May and this month. We still need to know how many otters do live in Kinmen and find a way to protect them.

Many thanks to you

from Michael Zhou
michael.zhou@msa.hinet.net

Unusual Otter Mating Behaviour!

I received a photo by Rachel Kuhn of an Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) showing very unusal ‘mating behaviour’ that I thought is worth to be shared with all of you!

Photo: © Rachel Kuhn . Click for larger version

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