IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 37 Issue 3 (November 2020)
OSG Group Members News
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New Members of OSG
Since the last issue, we have welcomed 4 new membesr to the OSG: you can read more about him on the Members-Only pages.
Procássia Barbosa, Brazil: I am a veterinarian, teaching animal anatomy, animal physiology and wild and exotic animals at the Federal University of Santa Caterina. I am an Executive Director of the Ekko Brasil Institute, working with the Lontra Project on Lontra longicaudis morphophysiology, captive management and fieldwork. My interests include Anatomy, reproduction and DNA studies.
David García Gómez, Mexico: I am a biologist specialized in marine mammals, including Humbold Penguins, Caribbean Manatess, bottle-nosed dolphins and Neotropical River Otters. As well as developing welfare, enrichment and operant conditioning programs (for stress-free veterinary care) for these, I am involved in a rescue and rehabilitation program for orphan or captured otters, which has dealt with 15 animals to date. My interest are in the application of new management techniques and animal welfare.
Frankie King-Smith, United Kingdom: I am an ecologist who has had involvement, both professionally and in a voluntary capacity, in otter research on and off since 2003, having worked with Chris Matcham, Vic Simpson and Jason Palmer. I am currently setting up Spraint Lab, https://www.spraintlab.org/, recording the dietary habits of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in the UKb analysing the content of otter droppings (spraints) received from professional ecologists, environmentalists and members of the public nationwide. The intention is to build up a long-standing national database of the dietary composition of UK otters
Javier Martinez, Spain: I´m a Spanish veterinarian with a special interest in otter medicine and husbandry, who has been working in Spain and the UK at different zoological collections for the last 7 years. I am currently working with Jason Palmer and the EAZA Small carnivore TAG vet advisor (Guillaume Douay), on a medical research project with ASC and smooth-coated ottersto determinew the current health status of the captive European populations, the main medical issues (morbidity and mortality), and some prospective research (anaesthesia and kidney disease).