A look at the worlds otters by the International Otter Survival Fund, and some of the problems facing them in the wild.

1. IOSF
INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FUND

2. Today’s presentation
Otters of the World
Dr Paul Yoxon
Head of Operations
International Otter Survival Fund

3. INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FUND 1993-2016

4. Otter Conservation Status (IUCN 2015)
Species 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 Trend
African clawless otter LRLC LRLC LC LC NT Declining
Congo clawless otter LRLC DD DD LC NT Declining
Spotted-necked otter LRLC VU LC LC NT Declining
Marine otter EN EN EN EN EN Declining
Neo-tropical otter LRLC DD DD DD NT Declining
Southern river otter VU EN EN EN EN Declining
Giant otter VU EN EN EN EN Declining
Sea otter LRLC EN EN EN EN Declining
North American river otter ? LRLC LC LC LC Stable
Eurasian otter LRLC VU NT NT NT Declining
Smooth-coated otter VU VU VU VU VU Declining
Asian Small-clawed otter LRNT LRNT NT VU VU Declining
Hairy-nosed otter VU DD DD EN EN Declining

5. Marine Otter (Lontra felina)
Declining population - Endangered

6. Marine Otter (Lontra felina)
Threats: Habitat loss, overfishing and hunting.

7. Marine Otter (Lontra felina)

8. Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis)
Declining population - Near Threatened

9. Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis)
Threats: Deforestation, water pollution and
hydrological changes.

10. Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis)

11. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax)
Declining population - Endangered

12. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax)
Threats: habitat destruction and illegal hunting.

13. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax)

14. Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Endangered population - Declining

15. Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Threats: Fur trade and conflicts with fisheries

16. Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)

17. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Declining population - Endangered

18. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Threats: Fur trade and oil spills, persecution

19. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

20. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
Stable population? Least concern?

21. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
Threats: Legal hunting in USA and Canada

22. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

23. Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
Declining population - Near Threatened

24. Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
Threats: Pollution, habitat loss

25. Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)

26. Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Declining population - Vulnerable

27. Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Threats: Habitat loss and overfishing

28. Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

29. Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)
Declining population - Vulnerable

30. Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)
Threats: Pet trade and habitat loss.

31. Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)

32. Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)
• Endangered and declining population.

33. Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)
Threats: Illegal wildlife trade, fur trade

34. Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)

35. African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis)
Declining population - Near Threatened

36. African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis)
Threats: Fur, bushmeat, traditional medicine

37. African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis)

38. Congo Clawless Otter (Aonyx congicus)
Declining population - Near Threatened

39. Congo Clawless Otter (Aonyx congicus)
Threats: Bushmeat and fur trade

40. Congo Clawless Otter (Aonyx congicus)

41. Spotted-necked Otter (Lutra maculicollis)
Declining population - Near Threatened

42. Spotted-necked Otter (Lutra maculicollis)
Threats: Fur trade is regulated but still taken for
medicine

43. Spotted-necked Otter (Lutra maculicollis)

44. WHAT MAKES ALL THESE
SPECIES SO SPECIAL?

45. OF COURSE THEY ARE FANTASTIC ANIMALS

46. THEY HAVE WONDERFUL FUR

47. THEY ARE INTELLIGENT

48. AND THEY NEVER FAIL TO SURPRISE US

49. BUT ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS IS
THAT THEY ARE AN
AMBASSADOR TO A
CLEAN AND HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT

50. THEY ARE AT THE
TOP OF THE FOOD
CHAIN, BOTH ON
LAND AND IN THE
WATER. SO IF THE
ENVIRONMENT IS
RIGHT FOR
OTTERS THEN IT
IS RIGHT FOR ALL
SPECIES,
INCLUDING MAN

51. SO LET’S REMIND
OURSELVES WHAT
PROBLEMS OTTERS ARE
FACING TODAY

52. LOSS OF HABITAT

53. CONFLICTS WITH PEOPLE
Dying in fish traps
Or deliberately trapped and killed

54. POLLUTION
and chemical
Litter

55. HUNTING

56. TRADE
and for fur
For pets

57. BUT PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING
OTTERS TODAY IS …

58. LACK OF PEOPLE WORKING TO
CONSERVE THEM
Through fieldwork and
education

59. DO WE REALLY WANT TO SEE A
DISTRIBUTION MAP OF ASIAN OTTERS
LOOKING LIKE THIS?
EXTINCT

60. Otters, their life in our hands
Help the work of the
International Otter Survival Fund
www.otter.org