Otters An Action Plan for their Conservation Edited by Pat Foster-Turley, Sheila Macdonald, and Chris Mason IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group IUCN Species Survival Commission: A Global Network for Species Survival Habitats and their living natural resources are under increasing pressures everywhere from humankind. Species, the basic biotic units, are consequently increasingly threatened with extinction. To protect and conserve biodiversity from species level to ecosystem requires management based on understand- ing of not just biological sciences, but also knowledge of local cultures, environmental economics, and governmental structures and dynamics. Among international responses to deal with this complexity is the Species Survival Commission (SSC), the largest commission of IUCN—The World Conservation Union. Founded in 1963 by noted conservationist Sir Peter Scott, the SSC network has 2500 volunteer member scientists, field researchers, governmental officials, and conservation leaders in 137 countries. They provide technical and scientific counsel for biodiversity conservation projects throughout the world, serving as resources to governments, international conventions, and conservation organizations. SSC works principally through its nearly 100 Specialist Groups, most of which represent particular plant or animal groups. SSC Specialist Groups focus on species either threatened with extinction or of special importance to human welfare. A few groups are disciplinary—veterinary medicine, captive breeding, reintroductions, international trade, and wildlife utilization. Each taxonomic group is charged to assess the conservation status of the chosen species and their habitats, to develop an Action Plan that specifies conservation priorities, and finally to implement required activities outlined in the Plan. Developing an Action Plan may take several months; full implementation of an action agenda may span decades. Action Plans have been completed by 13 Specialist Groups. The Species Survival Commission is the largest of six volunteer commissions of IUCN—The World Conservation Union. Founded in 1948, IUCN enrolls sovereign states, governmental agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations to conserve the world's natural heritage. Besides developing general conservation policy, such as The World Conservation Strategy, IUCN manages conservation projects worldwide for intergovernmental organizations, including projects on tropical forests, wetlands, marine ecosystems, the Sahel, Antarctica, and sustainable development. For more information on the Species Survival Commission and IUCN—The World Conservation Union, contact IUCN, Avenue du Mont-Blanc, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland. Telephone (22)649 114; Telefax (22)642 926. This publication is produced by IUCN—The World Conservation Union, with the collaboration of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA), and the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund, which was established by a generous gift from the Sultanate of Oman. © 1990 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorized without permission from the copyright holder, provided the source is cited and the copyright holder receives a copy of the reproduced material. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. ISBN 2-8317-0013-2 Printed by: Kelvyn Press, Inc., Broadview, Illinois, United States of America Publication services by: Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois Cover photo: Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in South Africa (Photo by David Rowe-Rowe). Otters An Action Plan for their Conservation Edited by Pat Foster-Turley, Sheila Macdonald, and Chris Mason IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Contents Page Page Foreword iii 9. Action Plan for European Otters 29 George B. Rabb Sheila Macdonald and Chris Mason Preface iii 10. Action Plan for African Otters 41 Pat Foster-Turley David Rowe-Rowe 1. Introduction and Overall Recommendations 1 11. Action Plan for Asian Otters 52 Pat Foster-Turley Pat Foster-Turley and Charles Santiapillai 2. An Introduction to the Otters 4 12. Action Plan for Latin American Otters 64 Chris Mason Claudio Chehébar 3. Surveys 8 13. Action Plan for North American Otters 74 Sheila Macdonald Paul Polechla 4. Threats 11 14. Conclusions and Priorities for Otter Conservation 80 Sheila Macdonald and Chris Mason Sheila Macdonald and Chris Mason 5. Implementing Conservation Strategies 15 Appendix 1. CITES Otter Identification Sheets 89 Chris Mason and Sheila Macdonald Appendix 2. Acknowledgements 114 6. Otters in Captivity 17 Pat Foster-Turley Appendix 3. Members of the IUCN Otter 7. Reintroductions 20 Specialist Group 116 Katherine Rails Appendix 4. List of photos and figures 120 8. Action Plan for Sea Otters 22 References 121 James Estes Foreword Humans have no natural adaptations for life in water. We A large part of the task ahead in the conservation of otters therefore understandably find the abilities of mammals of relates to obtaining more information about them. This Action aquatic habits fascinating. Their grace and endurance in water Plan provides a succinct yet very comprehensive summary of beguile us. When excellent swimming ability is coupled with knowledge pertinent to their conservation. It contains original a playful disposition, the animal has irresistible charm for us. materials otherwise unavailable. Yet it is obvious from the Otters are a prime example of how these characteristics enchant accounts that we need to know a great deal more. Among other us, as is reflected in such wonderful stories as Gavin Maxwell's things, basic research to help explain their comparatively low Ring of Bright Water. The slim volume in hand, however, levels of genetic variation, field and captive studies on their reflects another side of the human relationship to these captivat- reproductive biology, investigations of their water balance ing creatures. This side certainly should not reciprocally endear physiology, all are needed. Even more fundamental is simply us to otters, for human activities around the world have been determining by systematic surveys where otters still occur and inimical to the very survival of this cosmopolitan group of assessing how well their populations are faring in a world animals. increasingly impacted by detrimental human factors. Although the direct effects of humans on otters have been The long-term responses needed for conservation of otters severe in some instances, as is the case for the sea otter and giant involve major changes in the outlooks of people and govern- otter, indirect effects have been the more important worldwide. ments. The growing acceptance of the biological and economic This Action Plan identifies and discusses several significant importance of wetlands through the Ramsar convention is a factors that influence habitat quality and the presence of otters. favorable sign of change. Still, much more needs be done to The reader will quickly see that there has been insufficient enhance regard for the intrinsic as well as extrinsic values of the recognition of the value of otters as indicator species of environ- ecosystems that otters inhabit. mental health. Otters are, indeed, a fine illustration of why Finally, as I strongly commend this Action Plan for otters to species conservation work is so valuable generally. On the one governments, wildlife agencies, and conservation organiza- hand, they are sensitive to degradation of water quality, aquatic tions, I sincerely hope that the officials concerned and other food chains, and terrestrial habitat adjacent to water, and the individuals involved will commit to rapidly making this an resultant diminishment of their populations is cause alone for obsolete publication. By this I mean establishing and support- alarm. On the other hand, when close acquaintance is possible, ing projects and programs to supply more information on otters people find that otters are very charismatic animals. Informa- and their habitats and to act on available data and studies to tion and communications about them and their welfare there- protect and conserve these marvelous animals and the aquatic fore attract attention in a way that the familiar generalities about resources they symbolize. Otters and humans deserve no less. environmental problems do not. Thus, when fashioned appro- priately, materials on these aquatic acrobats can go a long way to make the arguments needed to conserve riverine, lacustrine, and other imperiled otter habitats, with all of their constituent George B. Rabb plant and animal species. For these fellow species, otters are Chairman environmental ambassadors of first-class rank. IUCN Species Survival Commission Preface This action plan for otter conservation has been compiled by the (3), implementing conservation strategies (5), otters in captiv- IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group with help and advice from ity (6), and reintroductions (7) are intended to give practical many other interested parties. Contributors are listed, with guidelines and cautions to those intending to pursue projects in thanks, in Appendix 2. The IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group these areas. The CITES identification sheets in Appendix 1 would like especially to thank Simon Stuart of the IUCN should be useful for biologists