IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 41 Issue 4 (November 2024)
Abstracts
Preliminary Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds in African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis Spraint
Pages 183 - 194 (Article)
Stephanie G. Nicolaides, Almuth Hammerbacher, and Trevor Mcintyre
Chemical communication plays an important role in mate selection, territoriality, resource guarding, parental care and disease transmission in many taxa. Studies investigating olfactory communication and scent communication in wild animal populations are rare. To date there has been no analysis of the odours encoded in African clawless otter anal gland secretions. The volatile organic compound profiles of 14 wild African clawless otter anal gland secretion and faecal samples were investigated to determine the composition of odour profiles and infer on the potential role of particular compounds. Faecal and anal gland secretions were analysed through gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Across all samples a total of 73 compounds were found of which a total of 34 were provisionally identified. Nine of the identified compounds function as sex pheromones and/or reproductive status signals in other vertebrates, suggesting that African clawless otter latrines likely also play an important role in reproductive communication between individuals of the species. Further studies matching the identities of known individual African clawless otters and their reproductive status with the olfactory characteristics of their spraint are required to further validate the interpretations reported here.
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Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) Occurrence in Hirakud Reservoir, India: A Ramsar Site and
One of the Longest Earth Dams in The World
Pages 195 - 201 (Short Note)
Himanshu Shekhar Palei, Nimain Charan Palei, Bhakta Padarbinda Rath, and Lalit Kumar Patra
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an apex predator in aquatic ecosystems. The species is found in the Himalayas along the northern part of India, extending from the northwest to the northeast, as well as in the Western Ghats and central India. Due to a lack of detailed information on its biology, the Eurasian otter is considered one of the lesser-known species in India. We report the occurrence of the Eurasian otter in the Hirakud reservoir of Odisha, India. Further research, monitoring, and awareness campaigns for local stakeholders are necessary to design effective conservation strategies for the species.
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The Presence and Relative Abundance of Otters (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Northern Namibia
Pages 202 - 209 (Report)
Laina Y. N. Abiatar, Seth J. Eiseb, Kenneth H. Uiseb, and Trevor Mcintyre
Four species of otter (Carnivora: Mustelidae) occur in Africa, of which the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) are known to occur in Namibia, although very little is known about their biology and distribution. Both species are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of a reported decline in their numbers. The presence of the species in the Kunene and Okavango rivers was determined by recording local community sightings of the African clawless and spotted-necked otters, as well as signs (footprints and latrines). In addition, 40 camera traps were deployed along the banks of the Okavango River within the Bwabwata National Park in the winter of 2022, collecting data for a total of 967 camera days. Based on this, a relative abundance index (RAI) of 0.3 for African clawless otters was calculated. The RAI for the Okavango River was the lowest compared with similar studies conducted at six other natural areas in Southern Africa. There is an evident need for conservation of wetlands and restoration of water quality in the region. Furthermore, more expansive studies on the taxonomy, distribution, diet, and population density of otters that occur in all northern perennial rivers of Namibia are recommended as the most important steps towards ensuring the future of otters in Namibia.
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The Trade in Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra, in North Korea
Pages 210 - 216 (Report)
Joshua Elves-Powell, Jee Hyun Kim, Jan C. Axmacher, and Sarah M. Durant
Exploitation for the purpose of trade is considered an important threat to all Asian otter species. To date, there has been limited information available regarding the use and trade of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea). This study provides the first assessment of otter trade in North Korea. Surveys with North Korean defectors revealed that despite hunting of the species having been banned in North Korea since 1959 and the species being listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Eurasian otters are opportunistically taken by North Korean hunters for illegal wildlife trade with buyers in the People’s Republic of China (China). Otter skins are reported to command a high price, compared to those of other furbearers, in black market trade. Eurasian otters are also reported to be farmed for their fur by the North Korean state for international trade to China, and potentially for domestic use. We caution that reported trade may breach China’s CITES commitments and should be addressed as a matter of priority.
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Once Distributed throughout the Kashmir Valley, now on the Verge of Extinction: A Sighting of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in the Gurez Valley, Jammu and Kashmir
Pages 217 – 224 (Short Note)
Mohsin Javid, Khursheed Ahmad, and Orus Ilyas
This reveals the first photographic evidence establishing the presence of the Eurasian Otter in the Kishanganga River in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir. This groundbreaking finding resolves uncertainties about the current status and occurrence of the species in the region. The Gurez Valley, tracing the course of the Kishanganga River and forming the upper reaches of the Neelum River in Pakistan, stands as an ecologically significant region inhabited by a diversity of rare, endangered, and unique flora and fauna. Unfortunately, this region has remained scientifically unexplored due to constraints imposed by military operations linked to border disputes and geopolitical tensions. During our camera trapping efforts aimed at studying Kashmir Musk Deer, two Eurasian otters were captured in camera traps. This revelation highlights the precarious state of small mammal populations in the region, emphasizing the imperative for focused attention from the scientific community and relevant authorities to safeguard the delicate ecosystems of the Gurez Valley.
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A Centuries-Old Otter-Fishing Practice in Bangladesh: Going, Going, Gone?
Pages 225 - 233 (Report)
Sumaya Khatun, Md. Mehedi Hasan, and M. Abdul Aziz
We assessed the current status of centuries-old traditional otter-fishing in Bangladesh. Field surveys were conducted between July and December 2022, collecting data to evaluate otter populations, the status of otter-fishers, and the challenges of otter-fishing. We recorded a population of 39 Smooth-coated otters, Lutra perspicillata owned by 15 fishermen families across two southwest districts. Over a decade, captive otters experienced 77% population decline whilst the otter-fishers have been reduced to 59%. This drastic decrease could be attributed to the loss and degradation of fishing ground resulting in low income for otter-fishermen, which has led the age-old tradition of otter-fishing to be at risk of extinction. We recommend devising a careful management plan and providing incentives for otter-fishers to keep this long-lasting tradition alive for the conservation of otters in Bangladesh.
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