IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 37 Issue 2 (April 2020)
OSG Group Members News
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New Members of OSG
Since the last issue, we have welcomed 10 new members to the OSG: you can read more about them on the Members-Only pages.
Susanne Backe, Sweden: I am a biologist for the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten in northern Sweden. I´m responsible for the terrestrial monitoring programs of wetlands, birds and otters. We are working on comparing spraint survey results with environmental DNA, as well as toxin level determinations. I would like to work with people in other countries, and other otter species, to braoden this work.
Chabi Djagoun,Benin: I have worked in conservation with many different species since 2014. I have been working with otters in portions of West Africa (primarily Benin) and ams dedicated to continuing that work. I am currently Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, Natural Management Resource School. My interests include human needs and sustainable wildlife conservation. I am also interested in using otters as a focal point for educating children in local communities about aquatic education and other conservation issues..
Andrew Harrington, United Kingdom: I have worked with Otters for 20 years most recently trying to develop an acoustic deterrent to help stop conflict with fisheries with the University of Oxford.
Philip John, Singapore: I study the evolution of animal behaviour and social behaviours in otters. My students and I study social and group dynamics, including vocal communication, group foraging, group territorial defence, and interactions between romps and external disturbances (e.g., predators) of smooth-coated otters, and other species in SE Asia.
Swanand Patil, India: I am Swanand Rajan Patil aconservational biologist by profession I am alsoFounder and Director of an NGO called as “Arcane Conservancy”, whose prime area of focus is to conductlong-term otter research and conservation along Ratnagiri on the west coast of Maharashtra. I have interned with Wild Otters, Goa and Lutra Innovation, under Atul Borker. Arcane Conservancy aims to develop Species-specific Management Strategies which are disseminated to Forest Department. I am interested in working on understanding otter-human interaction, otter adaptations, and diet in a coastal and a riverine landscape, along with generating outreach and education awareness among the local community
Lana Resende, Brazil: My interest is in the response of neotropical mustelids, especially otters, to anthropogenic environmental changes, and the occasional conflict. I am currently working on my Ph.D., investigating wide aspects of ecology and mustelids conservation across different environmental contexts in Atlantic Forest, wth Neotropical otters as the flagship species.
Colin Seddon, UK: I have worked in wildlife rehabilitation for 30 years. My main interest is the rehabilitation of otters back to the wild, and have handled over a hundred otter casualties, developing methods of rearing,housing,enclosure design,enrichment methods etc and in particular release methods including soft release,semi soft release and hard release. I am now retired, but providing advice on various wildlife rehabilitation matters including otter rehabilitation. I am also working with UKWOT, and hope to become more physically involved once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Rafael Sousa, Brazil: I work with Lontra longicaudis in Rio Grande do Norte, on ecology, behaviour and welfare.
Isha Tickoo, India: I am a research associate with Wild Otters in Goa. As well as field research covering the impact of habitat disturbance on otter presence, understanding den usage patterns, dog-otter conflict and behavioural adaptations to an estuarine environment, I am enthusiastic about outreach and education, using social media as well as the preparation and delivery of educational material.
Jennifer Van Brocklin, USA: I am a program officer for the OSG and a graduate student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. My master’s thesis focuses on an analysis of microplastic ingestion by sea and river otters in the North Pacific.