IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 41 Issue 1 (March 2024)
Viewpoint - Chris Shepherd
Otters, charismatic carnivores of the waterways, are an essential part of every natural habitat they occupy. As key predators, they keep populations in balance. A healthy otter population is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Unfortunately, otters are targeted for the wildlife trade in most places they occur, resulting in populations being negatively impacted and, in some cases, decimated.
Many people would easily recognize otters, perhaps from having seen them directly, or from various media sources including documentaries, traditional stories, and children’s books and even art. But the plight of otters often escapes the notice of the majority – very few are aware that these gregarious mammals are in trouble.
Otters have been decimated by illegal and unsustainable exploitation in many parts of the world. While some populations are recovering, many continue to decline. Hunted for their pelts, meat, or body parts used in traditional medicines, they are also traded live to meet the demand for exotic pets, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and decline. Despite international bans and protective legislative measures, the clandestine trade persists.
Asia is home to four otter species (excluding Sea Otters), all of which are threatened by commercial trade. Traders selling live animals as pets acquire otters from the wild to sell locally or traffic them abroad, often to countries such as Japan where demand for pet otters or otters kept in animal cafes is high. Otter cafes are dining establishments that offer the attraction for customers to interact with otters, and the chance to snap social media-worthy moments. Of the four species, Asian Small-clawed Otters, Smooth Otters and Eurasian Otters are now listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), largely banning the commercial international trade in these species. The Endangered Hairy-nosed Otter is still listed in Appendix II. Laundering of CITES I listed otters, through bogus captive breeding facilities, where animals taken from the wild are laundered into trade under the guise of being captive bred may yet prove to be a loophole that needs attention. There is much yet to be done to prevent illegal international trade in otters as traffickers continue to undermine conservation efforts by exploiting such legal loopholes.
It is therefore heartening to see actions taken by the Government of Japan to that ensure stronger and more effective legislation is in place to regulate and prevent commercial trade in otters. Japan has been identified in the past as an end destination for otters illegally sourced from other countries, especially in Southeast Asia. This new legislation will further empower the enforcement authorities to counter this trade.
Further research and monitoring of the otter trade is required to identify and address trends, to support enforcement efforts and to inform further policy changes. Ultimately, a collective awakening to reduce demand for otters is essential. Stronger national legislation and more effective use of CITES is urgently needed to tackle the illegal trade in otters and to ultimately ensure that none of these amazing species are lost.
Dr Chris R. Shepherd
Executive Director, Monitor Conservation Research Society
IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group Member