www.otter.org IOSF e-update no. 63 March 2016 e-Update 63, March 2016 Join our IOSF mailing list and receive our newsletters - Click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/p3lrsmx Otters of the World This month we look at the Hairy-nosed otter and we have Dr Budsabong Kanchanasaka to thank for showing that this rare species was not actually extinct, as was Hairy-nosed otter showing hairs on the nose thought in 1998. Budsabong still believed Photo: Romain Pizzi there were some hairy-nosed otters living in Thailand and with funding from IOSF through the Rainforest Action Fund she re- discovered them in the Phru Toa Dang swamp forest. Some cubs had been found and Budsabong told us “hurrying down south on a hunch, my suspicions were proven true – the otters had hair-covered rhinariums – hairy-nosed otters.” These otters get their name because the black part of the nose, the rhinarium, is covered in hairs unlike most mammals. Since then isolated populations have been found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam and they may still be present in Laos and Myanmar (Burma). It wasn’t until summer 2013 that hairy-nosed otters were confirmed in peninsular Malaysia, when a wildlife photographer, Nick Baker, managed to photograph them in Taman Negara. This is a long slender otter with an incredibly long tail and it is mostly dark in colour with yellow or white markings on the chin and neck. In Cambodia they are known as the “black otter” to distinguish them from the “grey otter” or smooth-coated otter. They eat mostly fish, but like all otters, will take whatever they can get, such as snakes, frogs, lizards, crabs, birds and small mammals. These otters are classed as “Endangered” and very little is known about their behaviour in the wild. The only video footage of wild hairy-nosed otters was taken by Budsabong in southern Thailand. Their preferred habitat seems to be in areas of lowland Melaleuca swamp forest, although they have also been found in highland jungle areas and in oil palm and rubber plantations. Unfortunately areas of Melaleuca forest are declining which is a clear threat to this rare species. There are also threats from pollution, construction of hydroelectric dams, competition with fishermen and hunting for the illegal fur trade. Sadly they have even been taken as pets but the cubs have died as they seem to be very vulnerable when kept in captivity. 1 of 10 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner 2012 Award Winner www.otter.org IOSF e-update no. 63 March 2016 In March 2009 there was an otter training workshop in Cambodia and just after this a fisherman found a hairy-nosed otter caught in his nets and took it to his community worker. This was such a positive step as this man could have sold the otter for about $200 which is a huge amount for a poor fisherman. This co-operation and liaison between the local communities and otter workers is essential for the long term conservation of the species. This otter became known as Dara, meaning ‘star’ in the local Khmer language, and he became an ambassador to the local people for otter conservation. He was cared for at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre in Phnom Penh and IOSF raised funds for a new enclosure for Dara. When he moved in, the Buddhist monks blessed his new home, as is customary for people when they move house. Sadly Dara became seriously ill and died, and it seems as if this species is particularly vulnerable to water quality. At the end of 2011 another hairy-nosed otter was taken to Phnom Tamao - Pursat. Every day, staff from Wildlife Alliance bring fresh water to ensure that Pursat does not encounter the same problems as Dara. He is the only hairy-nosed otter in captivity and he too is regarded as an ambassador for his species. For more information on the hairy-nosed otter go to http://www.otter.org/Public/AboutOtters_OtterSpecies.aspx?speciesID=12 and you can also read more in Otters of the World available at www.ottershop.co.uk Funds raised by The YEAR OF THE OTTER will go into the conservation of the hairy- nosed otter – please help. Year of the Otter The Year of the Otter is gaining momentum and many people have been helping by translating our posters and flyers into different languages. These are now available to download at: http://www.otter.org/Public/MediaAndResources_Resources.aspx At the time of writing we have 17 languages – Arabic, Belarussian, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Nepali, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and of course English and more and more translations are coming in. If you are able to help by translating into other languages please do contact us at [email protected] These posters are for everyone to download and distribute and you will also find material for use with children at http://www.otter.org/Public/MediaAndResources_Resources_ForChildren.aspx TOGETHER WE CAN BECOME A VERY LOUD VOICE TO MAKE PEOPLE LISTEN AND TAKE NOTICE 2 of 10 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner 2012 Award Winner www.otter.org IOSF e-update no. 63 March 2016 Other ways you can help … Are you planning an exciting challenge this year? Maybe running a marathon or half marathon, or losing a lot of weight. Or are you going to tackle a long-distance walk, such as the Pennine or West Highland Way? How about that once in a lifetime experience such as a parachute jump? Well, you could make it even more special if you get people to sponsor you and raise funds for the Year of the Otter. We have sponsorship forms ready for you and we can make your event known on the website to draw in even more sponsors. And remember to encourage your friends and family to donate via our crowdfunding page at https://www.buzzbnk.org/ProjectDetails.aspx?projectId=266 So just contact us at [email protected] to turn your experience into something that will also help otter conservation worldwide. News from the African Otter Group Ethiopia Engadesew Andarge took this photo of an African clawless otter footprint on the shore of Lake Tana (the source of the Blue Nile). It is an excellent print and will be very useful for comparison with other prints found in the field. Engadesew has recently been awarded a grant from the Rufford Foundation for his project on the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and spotted-necked otter (Lutra macullicolis) in Ethiopia. The project aims to produce a distribution map and determine the conservation status of the two species, which are both threatened by human disturbance and lack of awareness among local communities. Otters are poorly understood in Ethiopia due to a lack of research. Both species are very rare and critically endangered throughout Ethiopia and their distribution range appears to be very fragmented. Engadesew will carry out surveys for tracks and spraints at rivers, ponds, lakes and associated wetlands together with camera trapping, direct observations and interviews with local communities. There will be interviews and discussions with fishermen, nature guides, park wardens and scouts, and local communities to generate information and awareness about otters and conservation issues. This will enable the local communities to take part in decision making and policy planning for the conservation of otters and natural resources as a whole. As well as providing valuable data on otters in Ethiopia, the project will also provide a clear strategy for their conservation. It will also increase the community understanding of the value of otters as indicators of the health of wetlands and protection of water sources. 3 of 10 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner 2012 Award Winner www.otter.org IOSF e-update no. 63 March 2016 Tanzania William Mgomo is planning to extend his programme of school visits and also to meet with the fishermen from Mbamba bay who fish in Lake Nyasa. During a patrol of the Liparamba game reserve he also found fresh spraint along the Ruvuma River. Johnson Mbaryo told us of new threats to otters from gold mining activities. People are shifting the river course so that they can dig down into the river bed to get gold. Kenya Risper Ondiek met with fishermen at Lake Naivasha who reported the presence of otters but it looks as if their numbers have declined since 1990s. More important work in Africa will be funded by THE YEAR OF THE OTTER Help For Kikongo Otter Sanctuary As I write a parcel is heading to Rita with various items to help with her work at the Kikongo Otter Sanctuary. Thanks to the generosity of you, our followers, we are sending a box of supplies including baby bottle teats, cameras (both digital and remote trap) and other items which are hard to get in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many thanks to all who donated. The UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit is Safe Only a few weeks ago it looked as if the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit would disappear due to a short-sighted lack of funding. Now however, the Government has seen sense and announced funding for the next four years. When people think of wildlife crime it is mostly in connection with furs and body parts from exotic species like tiger, leopard, elephant and rhino, and the unit does indeed work on these aspects. However, it is a sad fact that there are many cases here in the UK.