IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 37 Issue 4 (December 2020)
Abstracts
Assessment of Population of Smooth-Coated Otters Lutrogale perspicillata in Tungabhadra Otter Conservation Reserve (TOCR), North Karnataka, India
Pages 181 - 190 (Report)
K.S. Abdul Samad, S. Santhosh And B.B. Hosetti
Otters are considered as the ‘ambassadors of wetlands’. Among the 13 species of otters in the world, five species are found in Asia. The smooth–coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata is the largest of these Asian otters. The presence of Smooth-coated Otters in Tungabhadra River has not been documented in the past. A rapid assessment survey was conducted for four months, from March to June 2017, to assess the population of Smooth-coated Otters in a 35 kilometre stretch of the Tungabhadra River from the Tungabhadra Dam reservoir to the bridge near Kampli town. About 158 positive sites were recorded along the river, indicating a healthy population of L. perspicillata. Of 158 recorded positive sites, 46.83% were communal latrines, 37.97% were resting and grooming sites, and 15.18% were holts/ den sites. Otters prefer rocky areas (54.18%) more than mud banks (25.94%) or sand banks (19.62%), and their habitat preference was very close to water bodies. The present study appends new geographical locations to the distribution range of Smooth coated otters in Karnataka, and also helps in understanding the complex ecological interactions of L. perspicillata in this river, which will help effoprts to mitigate the conservation problems.
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First Photographic Evidence of the Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra, in an Inland Saline Lake of the Tibetan Plateau, China
Pages 191 - 195 (Report)
Xiaoxing Bian and Xuchang Liang
The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is a widespread carnivore of aquatic ecosystems native to Eurasia and Palaearctic Africa, while knowledge about its ecology and distribution in the Tibetan Plateau, particularly within the inland drainage systems is still limited. Recent camera-trap records verify its occurrence in a salt-lake basin, the Siling Co in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is the first time this species has been photographed in this unique high-elevational habitat (4,572 meters above sea level). Conservation decision makers should immediately improve local management for this species in the region. In this unique habitat, the otter’s local ecology and evolutionary history warrant follow-up studies.
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Update on the Status of the Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra in Armenia
Pages 196 - 204 (Report)
Paul. J. Buzzard, Andranik Gyonjyan, Gor Kaloyan, and Levon Aghasyan
There is little information on the status of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in most parts of Asia including Armenia where the species is designated as “Endangered” on the Armenian Red List. Otters have declined in Azerbaijan and Iran, which neighbour Armenia, so it is critical to assess otter status in Armenia. To accomplish this, we used sign surveys, interviews and trail camera stations (n=4) on the majority of river systems and major lakes in Armenia. Our results confirmed otter presence in all areas surveyed, suggesting otter recovery, especially in the far northwest, the south-central province of Vayots Dzor and around Lake Sevan in central Armenia. In many areas, conflict is now increasing from otter predation at fish farms, and otters are sometimes killed in response. Fencing and dogs have been used to prevent conflict, and more research is needed to find the most cost-effective ways to mitigate conflict. In addition to otters killed because of conflict, other threats to the otter population include illegal hunting for fur, by-catch in illegal fishing nets and pollution from mining. An otter hotspot was identified in the Arpa River catchment of Vayots Dzor, and future work is necessary in the remaining parts of Armenia to identify more hotspots where conservation efforts can be focused.
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Population Status and Activity Pattern of Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, Eastern India
Pages 205- 211 (Report)
Nimain Charan Palei, Bhakta Padarbinda Rath Himanshu Shekhar Palei, and Bimal Prasanna Acharya
The smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata is an IUCN-Vulnerable species as a result of habitat loss and poaching. The objective of this study was to estimate the population status and activity pattern of smooth-coated otter in Bhitarkanika National Park. To achieve this, 15 camera trap stations were established in the study area between 16th June and 5th August 2019.We recorded notionally 30 independent capture events of smooth-coated otter, over a total of 725 camera trap days. The encounter rate of smooth-coated otter was 2.06/photo-captures/100 trap days, with a diurnal activity pattern. Further research and monitoring, and awareness campaigns for local stakeholders is required in order to design effective conservation strategies of the species.
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A Distribution Survey For Otters In Sikkim, India
Pages 212- 218 (Report)
Sunita Khatiwara and Karma Choden Bhutia
Little research or conservation attention has been directed towards otter species in the rich biological assemblages in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. We present the findings from the first physical and social survey of otters in the Indian State of Sikkim. We searched riverbanks along the major river of Sikkim, the Teesta River, and three of its tributaries, the Rangit, Lachen and Lachung for scats, tracks, dens and latrines of otters. We quantified 1) bankside vegetation cover and substrate, and 2) levels of human disturbance to habitat. Awareness programs were conducted in villages and schools adjacent to surveyed river stretches, and residents were queried about their familiarity with otters. We found very little evidence of otter presence on the banks of major rivers in Sikkim, from either the physical or social surveys, which may be attributed to increasing habitat degradation and little familiarity with otters among local people, particularly in the younger generation.
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A Survey of the Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra and Human-Otter Interaction in the Middle Oum Er Rbia River, Morocco
Pages 219 - 231
Abderrazak El Alami, Abderrazzak Fattah,and Abderrahman Chait
The Eurasian otter is listed as “near threatened” in IUCN’s Red List of Threatened species and in Appendix I of CITES. In Morocco, Lutra lutra occurs in the Middle and High Atlas, the Rif Mountains and in the plains of the central Morocco. The status of this species in Morocco is far from clear and there is limited available information on its distribution and ecology. Our aim was to confirm the presence of the Eurasian otter in the Middle Oum Er Rbia River, especially in the province of Fkih Ben Salah, to describe any human-otter conflicts and to identify the current and potential threats to the species. Between November 18, 2019 and February 29, 2020, a combination of standardized interviews combined with a field survey to gather information about otters in the study area was used. Results of the interviews and surveys confirmed the presence of this mammal in two sites. Our evidence is based on footprints, spraint and cadavers of otters. We have found that there is a conflict between local people, especially fishermen, and otters due to the competition for fish. Otters are facing extreme threats by human-induced habitat destruction, in particular gravel and sand extraction from the river bed, disturbances by local people, pollution, low water quality and vegetation burning. In conclusion, efforts must be focused on the conservation of this species by protecting its habitat and reducing conflict between local people and otters.
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