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

Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 1 - 48 (April 2006)

IUCN/SCC OSG Group
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From the Chairman's Desk

Once again, Arno and his colleagues have successfully produced the OSG Bulletin – congratulations and well done. As many of you may have been aware there has, for the past few years, been a problem with finding the necessary funds to produce the Bulletin as a ‘hard-copy’. The costs of production and posted coming to in excess of 1000 euros, in fact, there have been several instances where the Editor had to use his own money to meet the costs of an issue.  This could not continue, so earlier this year, Arno established a small group to look at the various options regarding future of the Bulletin. The result is that it was decided that the publication would be produced electronically. In many ways this has appeared to be the logical development. Already the older editions of the Bulletin are being put on the OSG web page. It also means cheaper production costs and a faster means of making members aware of what is happening. A ‘hard copy’ can still be obtained. Arno will be giving more details about this elsewhere in the Bulletin.  I hope you like the new presentation.

The OSG web site has lain ‘dormant’ for a long time. Lesley Wright agreed to take over the responsibility for it. Unfortunately it took some time to get ownership etc transferred. Now, however, it is up and running at www.otterspecialistgroup.org. Thanks to Lesley and her merry band of helpers. The web site is the best means of passing information between members and activities. Remember this is your site; it is only as good as the information you put in – so please view and use it.

Next year sees the Xth Otter Colloquium. This will be held between 10th and 16th October 2007 in Kwachean Province, Gangwan, South Korea. The meeting is being organised by Professor Sung-Yong Han, Director of the Korean Otter Research Centre. Details can be found on the Colloquium web site (www.otter2007.org) which can also be accessed through the OSG web site. I recently returned from a trip to Professor Han to discuss the Colloquium and see the facilities. There is a separate article about this visit in this issue. Here I will only summarise what I have already said. Professor Han with the support of the Mayor of Hwachean, has the organisation very much in hand.  The venue is ideal, good lecture facilities and plenty of small meeting rooms which we can use. Hwachean County lies in a beautiful part of Korea – an area of woodland, lakes and mountains. There is little industry so the air is clear. The Colloquium offers a great opportunity for delegates to visit a wonderful part of the world and, for many, to experience a new and wonderful culture.

I had originally intimated that it was my intention to leave the current structure of the OSG very much as it was, at least until I had some experience of what was needing to be done. Any changes would be intimated at the Colloquium. However, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men….’   It has been necessary to make some changes and to move with some of the organisation.

Firstly Jan Reed-Smith has agreed to act as convenor of the Otters in Captivity Task Force – its memberships appears to be in place and no doubt we will be hearing of its activities in the not too distant future.
Tom Serfass has also accepted the convenor ship of the Reintroduction Task Force. This has only recently been done, but hopefully Tom will soon have its membership organised and it will be up and running.
The Red List Group will continue to be chaired by Sayed A. Hussain, no doubt he will be in touch with his members trying to get up dated information on the status of the various species. I would hope that at the Colloquium we would be able to have a review on the species status.

Several members have asked about the Otter Action Plan – at present there is not much to report. I have set up a small group to look into what we can/should do. I would expect to report on this in the next Bulletin.

In May I attended an IUCN European Mammal Assessment meeting in Austria where the status of the species was discussed. Over all the picture appears to be positive, but I emphasised that there were still many problems and got an agreement that the current status will not be changed.

Like the web page, the activities of the Chair depend very much on the support and co-operation of the members. I am afraid that over the past few months several people have been asked by me to do a number of jobs – for those who have responded, many thanks. Too often it is the willing horses that get asked. All I ask is that if I request information and/or help, you respond, even if only to say ‘sorry’. It is unfortunate when requests for information/help go unanswered.

Jim Conroy
Celtic Environment Ltd.,
Old Mart Road
Torphins
Aberdeenshire, AB31 4JG
UNITED KINGDOM
e-mail: jim@celticenvironment.com

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