IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 36 Issue 2 (April 2019)

Abstracts

Improved Legislation and Stronger Enforcement Actions needed as the Online Otter Trade in Indonesia continues
Pages 64 - 71 (Short Note)
Lalita Gomez, Chris R. Shepherd and John Morgan
Indonesia is home to four species of otters i.e. Small-clawed Otter, Smooth-coated Otter, Hairy-nosed Otter and the Eurasian Otter. The latter three are protected by law in Indonesia. However, recent studies have shown that it is the Small-clawed Otter that is currently being coveted for the pet trade. Indonesia has been recently flagged as a hotspot in the trade of the Small-clawed Otter as pets. Online monitoring has shown hundreds of juveniles for sale, and anecdotal evidence suggests that much of this trade involves otters taken from the wild. This is concerning as the Small-clawed Otter is generally considered to be in decline across its range and listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study shows that there is an urgent need for Indonesia to protect its Small-clawed Otter from over-exploitation. There is also an urgent need to stronger legislation in Indonesia concerning the regulation of wildlife trade occurring on online platforms.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (1.1 MB)

Stronger International Regulations and Increased Enforcement Effort is needed to end the Illegal Trade in Otters in Asia
Pages 72 - 77 (Report)
Lalita Gomez and Chris R. Shepherd
The international trade in otters to supply a growing demand from the pet industry is an increasing threat to the conservation of Asia’s wild otters. Current use of CITES II is proving inadequate and as such, listing Asian otter species in Appendix I is considered as a solution to allow CITES Parties to more effectively combat this illegal trade. Indonesia and Thailand, as important source countries of otters are urged to increase efforts to crack down on illegal trade. Japan as a major market for otters and other wildlife is encouraged to amend current legislation to prevent illicit trade in illegally-sourced species listed in Appendix II..
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (809 KB)

Observation on Mating of Smooth-Coated Otter, Lutrogale perspicillata, at Putrajaya Lake and Wetland, Malaysia
Pages 78 - 83 (Report)
Mike HN Chong
Few detailed observations have been carried out of Smooth-coated otter and the other otter species in Malaysia. What are even scarcer are studies on the biology of the four species of otter found in Malaysia. A pair of Smooth-coated otters was observed mating at the Putrajaya Lake and Wetland, Peninsular Malaysia in June 2011. Mating occurred when both the otters were semi submerged in the water in a vertical position. This took place at a shallow and secluded area of the wetland, near a grove of aquatic plants. Apparent copulation occurred with both otters facing each other in a frontal position with the male grasping the female on its flanks with its front feet. Four episodes of mating were recorded during the observation period lasting 10-15 seconds for each episode. The secluded nature of the area where the mating was observed probably contributes to the fact that mating by Smooth-coated otters has not been recorded in Malaysia before. It also provides an indication on the timing of the breeding season and an insight into the breeding biology of this species in Southeast Asia
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (987 KB)

The Necessity of Monitoring and Conservation of Smooth-Coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Non-Perennial Rivers of South India
Pages 83 - 87 (Short Communication)
Sampath Deepan Chackaravarthy, Balasubramanian Kamalakannan and Natarajan Lakshminarayanan
Perceptions of Smooth-Coated Otters are different in the various areas of their distribution. In some parts of the world, the species is regarded as deities, while in others parts they have been loathed as vermin. Smooth-coated Otters have the widest distribution of otter species in the Indian sub-continent, but face both lack of information and lack of attention for conservation. As the distribution of this top carnivore species depends on semi-aquatic habitat, it faces immense threats. In particular, groups or families that inhabit non-perennial river systems face severe threats and are currently data deficient. We have recorded one such active family of Smooth-coated Otter on a non-perennial river system: the River Cauvery in south India. There is a strong need to take steps to study and conserve for the population inhabiting areas like this. The IUCN Otter Specialist Group also emphasize the need for good fundamental ecological research for every single species of otter.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (614 KB)

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) from the Northern and Southern Populations may find each other in Humboldt County, California
Pages 88 - 92 (Short Note)
Maximilian L. Allen and Shawn M. Crimmins
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an apex carnivore and a keystone species, whose range contracted with population declines in last few centuries. But due to direct conservation efforts, both the northern sea otter (E. lutris kenyoni) and southern sea otter (E. lutris nereis) populations shown increases in the last few decades. The two populations are not connected, however, and southern sea otters in California are still threatened and endangered on the state level. The Humboldt County coast is situated between the southern sea otters in central California and the northern sea otters found between Oregon and Alaska. In 2015 a sea otter was seen in Humboldt Bay, the first sighting in Humboldt County since 2005. Although most sea otters found in Humboldt County are assumed to be from the southern sea otter population, genetic testing of a dead sea otter found in 2014 determined that it was from the northern sea otter population. The continued documentation of southern sea otters and the recent documentation of dead northern sea otter in Humboldt County suggests the Humboldt County coast may be an important area for linking the two populations in the future.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (391 KB)

First Photographic Record of Smooth Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
Pages 93 - 97 (Short Note)
Tahir Ali Rather, Shaizah Tajdar, Sharad Kumar and Jamal A.Khan
The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is one of the three species of otters found in India. It occurs throughout the country from the Himalayas downward to the south. Smooth-coated otter is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened species and is legally protected in India under schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Being previously unreported in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, we present the first record of smooth-coated otter in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The species was recorded in camera trap survey aimed to monitor large carnivores in the buffer zone of the reserve. No further record of the species was found during the subsequent camera trap survey, suggesting the very scanty distribution of the species in the area.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (425 KB)

First Record of Hairy-Nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Southern Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Pages 98 - 102 (Short Note)
Mahfud Huda, Aldino F. Fauzil, Ali I. Amran, Carl Traeholt and Muhammad Silmi
The Hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) has never been recorded in Borneo’s far south. Here we present evidence of the first records of Hairy-nosed otter in the southern parts of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (831 KB)

Photographic Records of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758) from Nyamjang Chu River, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Pages 103 - 109 (Short Note)
Malyasri Bhattacharya, Taibangba Watham and G.V. Gopi
A few individuals of Eurasian otters were sighted in the Nyamjang Chu river, Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh during three months fieldwork between December 2017 and February 2018. The individuals were filmed and photographed swimming in the Nymjang Chu river. Previous records have listed the occurrence of smooth-coated otter and Asian small-clawed otter from Arunachal Pradesh. The present sighting is the first photographic evidence from the North-East Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The record shows the importance of the habitat of Nyamjang Chu River valley currently facing a threat of submergence from an upcoming hydroelectric power project.
Contents | Full Text + Links | PDF (667 KB)