Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in developing countries: a resurvey of Albania 22 years after the fall of communism

AbstractIn countries with emerging and developing economies the need to promote development and the lack of information on the status of the Near Threatened Eurasian otter Lutra lutra have given rise for concern about the conservation status of the species. In Albania information about the distribution of this otter dates from 1985. In 2013 we resurveyed 31 sites previously surveyed in 1985, and a further 42 sites throughout the country. At each site nine habitat variables of potential importance to otters were recorded and analysed. Overall the distribution pattern in 2013 did not differ from that recorded in 1985, although a reduction in marking intensity suggested a possible decline in otter numbers. Distribution of the otter has been influenced by land use and human density, suggesting man-induced habitat changes since the fall of communism may have affected the quality and fragmentation of otter habitats.

Download Full-text

The Near Threatened Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Morocco: no sign of recovery

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605311001517 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 249-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Miguel Delibes ◽

Javier Calzada ◽

Miguel Clavero ◽

Néstor Fernández ◽

Carlos Gutiérrez-Expósito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Pollution ◽

Distribution Pattern ◽

Environmental Policies ◽

General Distribution ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

River Bank ◽

High Atlas ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Western Morocco ◽

Near Threatened

AbstractAlthough the Near Threatened Eurasian otter Lutra lutra has been recovering in Europe since the 1980s nothing is known about population trends of the species in northern Africa. Ninety sites was searched for signs of otters in northern and western Morocco in 1983 and we repeated this survey in 2011. At each site we searched for otter spraints (faeces) or clear footprints along a maximum of 600 m of river bank, ending the search when the first sign was found. Overall results were strikingly similar in 1983 and 2011, with 36 positive sites and the same general distribution pattern of the species. Healthy otter populations appear to remain in the foothills of the Middle and High Atlas but the trend of populations disappearing from the relatively flat Atlantic slope has increased. The results are in clear contrast with the recovery of otter populations in Europe, probably because of differences in the implementation of environmental policies, especially regarding water pollution.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic notes on Grosourdya muriculata (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Vandeae: Aeridinae), a little known endemic orchid from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.3842.11.1.13162-13167 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 13162-13167

Author(s):

Sanjay Mishra ◽

C. P. Vivek ◽

Gautam Anuj Ekka ◽

Lal Ji Singh

Keyword(s):

Present Article ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Field Surveys ◽

The Status ◽

Nicobar Islands ◽

Near Threatened

Grosourdya muriculata (Rchb.f.) R. Rice (Orchidaceae) is a little known epiphytic, endemic orchid from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India. The present article provides the detailed taxonomy, ecology, distribution, conservation status, and photographic account of the species. The data collected from field surveys indicates that the status of the species needs to be downgraded to Near Threatened as per the criteria of IUCN (2018).

Download Full-text

The conservation status of birds in Laos: a review of key species

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900002197 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 8 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

R. M. Thewlis ◽

R. J. Timmins ◽

T. D. Evans ◽

J. W. Duckworth

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Additional Species ◽

Key Species ◽

The Status ◽

Global Status ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

First Time ◽

Near Threatened

SummaryLaos is an important country for bird conservation. Bird surveys between 1992 and 1996, the first since 1949, covered 20 main areas, with incidental records from many others.This paper reviews the status of all Lao species reported to be of elevated conservation concern (key species) in any of the following categories: Globally Threatened or Globally Near-Threatened (sensu Collar and Andrew 1988 and Collar et al. 1994), and At Risk or Rare in Thailand (sensu Round 1988 and Treesucon and Round 1990). Several additional species are covered which have clearly undergone a National Historical Decline in Laos. A comprehensive review of other Lao species was not possible, and some species which are in truth of conservation concern have doubtless been overlooked. Historical and modern records were reviewed and population trends identified where possible.Current global status listings (Collar et al. 1994) were supported, except that consideration should be given to changing Red-collared Woodpecker Picus rabieri and Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti from Threatened to Near-Threatened. If the Lao situation is representative of the species throughout their range, then consideration should also be given to placing Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus and River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii as Near-Threatened.Twenty-seven Globally Threatened species are known from Laos, of which there are recent records of 22. There are recent unconfirmed records of two more. Forty-seven Globally Near-Threatened species are known from Laos, of which there are recent records of 39; there are unconfirmed records of one further species. Five Globally Threatened and five Near-Threatened species were recorded for the first time in Laos in recent years, suggesting that further species of elevated conservation concern remain to be found.

Download Full-text

Past and present: the status and distribution of otters (Carnivora: Lutrinae) in China

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317000400 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 619-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fei Li ◽

Bosco Pui Lok Chan

Keyword(s):

Lutra Lutra ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

The Past ◽

International Borders ◽

Relict Populations ◽

The Status ◽

Remote Sites ◽

Source Populations ◽

Conservation Interventions

AbstractThree species of otters are known from China; the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is widespread throughout the country and the smooth-coated Lutrogale perspicillata and Asian small-clawed otters Aonyx cinereus occur in tropical and subtropical regions. We summarize the past status and distribution of otters in China, and provide an update based on a literature review, interviews and field surveys. Otter populations have undergone a dramatic countrywide decline, and are extirpated over much of their former ranges. Relict populations persist, however, in well-protected nature reserves, in sparsely populated headwaters of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, at remote sites along international borders, and in densely populated deltas and floodplains. Recent records were mostly of the Eurasian otter, and we could find no confirmed recent record of the smooth-coated otter. The otters that survive in certain well-protected sites could act as source populations for recolonization if adequate conservation interventions are implemented. Urgent, focused action is needed to protect the remaining populations, and to study the taxonomy and ecology of China's otters.

Download Full-text

Distribution of Eurasian otter biliary parasites, Pseudamphistomum truncatum and Metorchis albidus (Family Opisthorchiidae), in England and Wales

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182009006362 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 136 (9) ◽

pp. 1015-1022 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

E. SHERRARD-SMITH ◽

J. CABLE ◽

E. A. CHADWICK

Keyword(s):

Gall Bladder ◽

Biliary System ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

England And Wales ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

The North ◽

South Wales ◽

The Status ◽

The Uk

SUMMARYGall bladders from 273 otter carcasses, collected throughout England and Wales, were screened to assess the status of gall bladder parasites in the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra. The digenean Pseudamphistomum truncatum had previously been found in UK otters collected between 2000 and 2007. The parasite was established in Somerset and Dorset but its distribution elsewhere in the UK was largely unknown. In the current study, P. truncatum was also found to be abundant in south Wales, with occasional cases elsewhere, but appears to be absent from the north of England. Overall, 11·7% of otters were infected with 1–238 P. truncatum. A second digenean, Metorchis albidus, previously unreported in British otters, was found in the biliary system of 6·6% of otters. M. albidus appears well established in Suffolk, Norfolk and north Essex but was recorded elsewhere rarely. Both parasites are associated with pathological damage to the otter gall bladder. The recent discovery of these two non-native parasites provides a unique opportunity to assess their impact on native British fauna.

Download Full-text

Fish diversity and the conservation status of a wetland of Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.3404.10.3.11423-11431 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 11423

Author(s):

Ram Krishna Das

Keyword(s):

West Bengal ◽

Monsoon Season ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Single Species ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Vulnerable Species ◽

Post Monsoon ◽

The Status ◽

Weed Infestation ◽

Near Threatened

A study was carried out from March 2016 to February 2017 to investigate the diversity of fishes and the conservation status of Bochamari Beel, a natural wetland of Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India. The study revealed the occurrence of 40 species of fishes belonging to 31 genera under six orders and 15 families. Cyprinidae was the dominant family with 14 species followed by Channidae with four species, Ambassidae and Bagridae with three species each, Nandidae, Mastacembelidae, Belontiidae, Siluridae and Clariidae with two species each whereas Cobitidae, Belonidae, Gobiidae, Anabantidae, Tetraodontidae and Notopteridae were represented by a single species each. The status of species of this beel included one Endangered species, one Vulnerable species and four Near Threatened species. The maximum fish diversity was recorded in the monsoon season (H’=2.876) as compared with pre monsoon (H’=2.124) and post monsoon (H’ =1.735). The evenness index varied from 0.640 (post monsoon) to 0.822 (monsoon), which indicates uneven distribution of fishes in this beel. Indiscriminate fishing throughout the year, along with extensive weed infestation could be responsible for depletion of fish diversity in this beel.

Download Full-text

Current distribution and status of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in South Korea

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605318001114 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 743-746

Author(s):

Yeong-Seok Jo ◽

Oh-Sun Lee ◽

Tae-Jin Park ◽

Han-Na Kim ◽

John T. Baccus

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Source Area ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

The South ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Asian Populations ◽

South West ◽

The Status ◽

Natural Monument

AbstractThe status of Asian populations of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is largely unknown. Since its designation as a Natural Monument (in 1983) and as Endangered (in 1997) in South Korea the authorities there have been trying to conserve and recover the species. We conducted a national otter survey by standard methods in 2017 and compared the current otter distribution to those recorded in a previous survey (2010). We found otter signs in 84.5% of 1,105 10 × 10 km grid cells, with the highest sprainting intensity in the south-west in the Yeongsan River Basin and on the south coast, where we recorded 7.05 and 6.26 spraints/site, respectively. Despite relatively low spraint densities, the otter has expanded its range since 2010 by colonizing urban areas. This trend suggests that South Korea could be a source area for the recovery of the Eurasian otter in East Asia.

Download Full-text

Pulmonary hair embolism in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Kinmen, Taiwan

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 55-61

Author(s):

WT Li ◽

YL Chiang ◽

TY Chen ◽

CL Lai

Keyword(s):

Foreign Body ◽

Traumatic Injury ◽

Lung Parenchyma ◽

Giant Cells ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Lung Lobe ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Foreign Body Giant Cells ◽

Free Ranging

Eurasian otters Lutra lutra are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and are imperiled by habitat loss, water pollution, and poaching. Harassment and attacks by stray animals are also recognized threats to the health of wild Eurasian otters. Pulmonary hair embolism is a possible complication in animals with deep traumatic injury, but to date no cases have been reported in wildlife. A free-ranging, adult male Eurasian otter was rescued due to severe emaciation and multiple bite wounds. The otter died 3 d after rescue and was necropsied. Grossly, a 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm firm nodule was observed in the left cranial lung lobe. Histologically, a fragment of hair shaft surrounded by multinucleated foreign body giant cells was observed in a medium-sized vein, and extensive eosinophilic infiltration was noted in the adjacent vascular wall and lung parenchyma. Based on the gross and histological findings, the pulmonary lesion was consistent with eosinophilic pneumonia and vasculitis induced by hair embolism. The presence of well-formed multinucleated foreign body giant cells and eosinophils may imply a late stage of foreign body reaction, and thus the presumptive source of hair embolism is an animal bite. This is the first report of pulmonary hair embolism associated with animal bite in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter.

Download Full-text