IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 36 Issue 1 (January 2019)
OSG Group Members News
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New Members of OSG
Since the last issue, we have welcomed 8 new members to the OSG, and welcomed back a former member: you can read more about them on the Members-Only pages.
Manuel Badilla, Chile: I originally joined OSG in 2007. I work now to bridge the gap between the public and the world of science. I believe that wild otters can be used as an excellent ecological service to raise awareness, but that before doing anything, we must personally consider our footprint, our socio-environmental responsibility as a whole.
Aarati Basnet, Nepal: I am a final year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Forestry Science from Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal. I was recently awarded a Small Mammal Research Fellowship by the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation of Nepal to conduct an otter survey in the Budigandaki River of Nepal, where I have already conducted preliminary research on otter presence, including a key informant survey and camera trapping.
Laura Fasola, Argentina: I joined OSG in 2004, when was I working on Southern River Otters in Argentinean Patagonia. After a few years working on other species, I found that I always looked for otter sign and how to promote their conservation. In 2016, I began working on the only known freshwater Lontra provocax population in Argentina, focussing on understanding occupation dynamics and how to promote and encourage the population.
Rohit Raj Jha, Nepal: My interest lies in long term study of otter habitat and to see how change in intensity of anthropogenic factors is changing the distribution of habitat. My study on Smooth-Coated Otter distribution in Bardiya National Park showed that as anthropogenic disturbances increase, otter distribution decreases. I plan to continue this work over several seasons and on more sites, in order to develop information that can be the basis of conservation intervention policies.
Ade Kurniawan, Singapore: I worked as a zookeeper with Asian small-clawed otters for 6 years. I am currently working on the impact of otter display and messaging in the zoo on visitor's attitude to otters as pets. I am also interested in helping with regional and national conservation strategy plans for otters, having worked on such plans for the Sunda Pangolin.
Shiri Lev, India: I am working at Wild Otters, Goa, and my particular interest is combatting the pet otter trade, and the rehabilitation and return to the wild of otters rescued from unsuitable situations. I’m currently working on a concept project of depicting otters as wildlife who should not be kept as pets. The basic plan is to create and publish visual elements such as ‘memes’ and caricatures of captive otters vs. wild otters through social media, in order to raise public awareness around the world.
Tim Schikora, Germany: I work with giant otters, particularly in captive population management (I am EEP Coordinator for EAZA and International Studbook Keeper for WAZA). I am already working together with the OSG and other giant otter enthusiasts from research, conservation and other zoo staff in Europe, the Americas and Singapore
Paul Todd, USA: I am a lawyer and policy advocate currently working for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in the United States, and I have extensive experience in the areas of international wildlife law and policy, political advocacy, behavior change strategies, institutional strategic planning, communications, and project and campaign design. I have been working with members of OSG to “uplist” three species of tropical Asian otters from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I. I am also working on a strategy to secure the uplisting of the hairy-nosed otter as soon as possible following the CITES conference in Sri Lanka