www.otter.org IOSF e-upate no. 32 – August 2013 e-Update 32, August 2013 20 Years On - the Fur Trade It is a sad fact that we have been fighting against the fur trade for 20 years and yet it is still going on. In our Newsletter No 6 from 1995 the main article read: “DOUBLE HYPOCRISY – A RING OF BLOODY WATER While there has been much publicity over the years about the fur trade, it is hard to believe that in 1995 there is still such exploitation of the North American River Otter ( Lontra canadensis ). In the last ten years in excess of 300,000 were killed for fur in Canada and America, many using the gin trap or leg-hold trap outlawed years ago in Britain and many other countries in Europe. Otters trapped in the wild inevitably suffer slow agonising deaths. It seems even more bizarre that this is a legal trade which exports to countries like Germany, Italy, Denmark, Finland and even Great Britain, albeit on a small scale. While the highest percentage of furs goes to the China and Hong Kong markets, there are still roughly 18,000-20,000 furs a decade exported into western European countries, countries which have protected their own species of otter years ago ” And what is even more sad, is that the number of otters being killed has actually gone up, as shown by figures for 2010: USA Total number of otters taken per year where such numbers are given: 17,445 (for 19 states). Total number of states where otters are present and may be American River Otter hunted: 31. [Photo: Tanya Thiboudeaux ] In 20 states otters were reintroduced and in 9 of these states they can now be hunted. Canada Total number of otters taken per year where such numbers are given: 10,976 (for 15 states). If the average figures are extended to the remaining states it gives a total per year of 28,462 for USA and 10,976 for Canada. This gives a total of 39,438 otters per year but this does not take into account 1 of 11 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner Award Winner 2012 www.otter.org IOSF e-upate no. 32 – August 2013 animals which have not been registered or those which are caught incidentally when trapping for beavers. The markets are still the same and American and Canadian furs are traded at big auction houses with the strongest markets being China and South Korea, where there are manufacturing centres. Buyers come from Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, New York, Turkey, Toronto and the UK. It is argued that this is “sustainable”, but we just don’t seem to learn from experience with other otter species. Sea otters were nearly hunted to extinction because of the beautiful quality of their fur. As we mentioned in last month’s e-update, the sea cat or marine otter was also heavily persecuted until 1929 when the Chilean government gave them legal protection. The marine otter population is still recovering and is even now considered patchy. As you know IOSF is very concerned about the fur trade in Asia and we have been working in countries like Cambodia and Indonesia to train more people in otter research and public awareness and education. This work is vitally important if we are to stop killing otters for fur. But in Asia it is a totally different situation to that in the west. The people hunting the otters are largely poor fishermen who are trying to get a bit more money for their family. Yes, of course, once the furs are sold on it becomes big business but the basic hunter is not in that position. However in America and Canada it is different as many people are doing it for “sport” and they are certainly not on a basic subsistence level as in Asia. We have been disappointed over the years that organisations such as the IUCN Otter Specialists Group have not been able to tackle this problem. To us it seems hypocritical to condemn this activity in Asia, whilst doing nothing to stop it in the rich west. We at IOSF are not willing to stand by and ignore this issue and will continue to campaign against ALL fur trade. Fighting the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Cambodia The illegal wildlife trade is worth many millions of pounds and there is a great focus on south-east Asia. In 2001, Wildlife Alliance partnered with the Cambodian government to create a special wildlife crime investigation and counter- trafficking unit known as the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT). They travel throughout the country visiting markets and restaurants as well as private zoos, which can be a front for the illegal trade. Animals are taken for fur “medicine” and also meat and the Smooth-coated Otter team gather information and rescue [Photo: Nick Marx] illegally traded wildlife. Over the years they have rescued about 54,000 wild animals – a tremendous achievement. Animals which are confiscated are returned to the wild if they are fit enough, but 2 of 11 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner Award Winner 2012 www.otter.org IOSF e-upate no. 32 – August 2013 those which cannot be released are cared for at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC), the home of Pursat, the hairy-nosed otter. PTWRC resembles a park more than a zoo and many of the released animals now live in the surrounding forest. There are teams of community rangers who patrol to ensure the safety of the released animals and the protection of the forest. Nick Marx from Wildlife Alliance recently gave us an update on the work of the WRRT. In the last three months they have confiscated many species of bird, snakes, monitor lizards, turtles and other reptiles. Nineteen slow loris bodies were also seized which had been killed for their “medicinal” qualities. In addition there were a pet sun bear, two snared dhole pups, six macaques, two leopard cats, five common palm civets, two lesser adjutant storks, one Critically Endangered greater adjutant and 101 mynah chicks, which are now being hand raised at Phnom Tamao. This is not an easy task as often there will be tip-offs before raids so that any illegal products are disposed of before the team arrive and “offenders” escape into the crowded markets. However as Nick says “We may lose one or two battles, but we will only lose the war against this terrible trade if we give up the fight….and we must never do that.” Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) continues to care for Pursat and seven smooth-coated otters. The WRRT rescued a smooth-coated otter which is currently in the Quarantine Area awaiting a new enclosure. He has been called Rolong, meaning "smooth" in Khmer. In the past PTWRC have bred this species very successfully and Otter fun they aim to [Photo: Nick Marx] encourage breeding and release the cubs. They have several females, one of which could be paired up with Rolong once there is a permanent residence in a secluded area of forest in the Main Centre. Current facilities cannot be used as they are too public and this would compromise the potential release of the cubs. We are grateful to Colchester Zoo for providing the funds for this new enclosure to be built. We will keep you in touch with progress. A New Concept in Otter Conservation One of the main problems in the conservation of any animal species is ensuring that there is sufficient food available. For freshwater otters in the UK, one of their favourite prey items is the eel. However, since 2000 the recruitment of glass (young) eels has plummeted by 95-99%. The exact reason for this is now known but there 3 of 11 British Animal Honours 2013 IFAW Animal Action Wildlife Conservation Award Winner Award Winner 2012 www.otter.org IOSF e-upate no. 32 – August 2013 are many threats to eels – pollution, parasitic infestation from introduced Japanese eels and construction work like dams which prevent access to higher parts of the river. And yet it is still legal for them to be harvested and sold, even though the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (2006) considers it to be unsustainable. This has potentially disastrous implications for otters, and could well be why they are being seen in new places and are becoming more of a problem in domestic fish ponds and fisheries. We were therefore interested to hear of a novel approach to eel conservation by the Golden Valley Fish and Wildlife Association. The main river in the Golden Valley is the River Dore which is a minor tributary of the River Wye. Here the Association is working to discover as much as they can about the status of eels in their valley. But they are also doing more practical work by buying elvers from elver fishermen of the Severn/Wye estuary for release back into the river. It is hoped that this initial small-scale project can eventually be rolled out throughout the country and that by doing this they can hopefully re-stock levels to the eventual benefit of eels, fishermen and otters. IOSF has donated some funds to this project and is keen to work with the association to raise further funds. If you would like to donate you can send a cheque marked “Eels” on the back or you can donate online at www.otter.org Cubs at the Sanctuary Well it has been quite an eventful time here at the sanctuary on Skye.