IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 30 Issue 2 (October 2013)

OSG Group Members News
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James Williams, MBE

James Williams was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours on 16th June 2013, for conservation of Otters in Somerset.  Read more....

The OSG also congratulates James for the well-deserved recognition of his work.

OSG Annual Report to IUCN/SSC

We submitted our Annual Report on the state of otters worldwide to the IUCN Species Survival Commission during November 2013

New Members of OSG

Since the last issue, we have welcomed 6 new members to the OSG: you can read more about them on the Members-Only pages.

Nesime Askin, Canada: I am interested in advancing otter research and education in Canada and will develop new teaching materials to promote otter ecology and environmental issues. Both as a scientist and as an artist, I hope to fulfill these goals and promote otter ecological and environmental issues to a new generation of academics.

Victor Camp, USA: As an independent researcher I am investigating the presence, habitat utilization, and behavioral activities of the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) in gated communities and golf courses in western Lee and Collier counties of southwest Florida. This research is intended to define the extent these man-made environments contribute to the population of river otters in southwest Florida.

Robert Elmer, United Kingdom: I am currently undertaking an undergraduate research project at Cardiff University Otter Project. I am investigating the effect of contaminant levels, including Dieldrin and PCBs, on the Bone Mineral Density of otter bacula.

Marina Schweizer, Brazil: My father studied giant otters in the Pantanal, and I have followed him.  With my husband, I now run a small ecotourism business on the Rio Negro, working with our guests to record behavioural observations of our resident group of giant otters.

Anna-Marie Tennant, United Kingdom: I am happiest outside watching the many wonders of the natural world. Otters hold the top spot. When I am not busy trying to learn more about this fascinating creature I am busy drawing sketches of them. I am very committed to knowledge exchange and am working with otter professionals to develop educational materials about otters and their conservation.

Heather Wood, United Kingdom: I am a research assistant with Cardiff University Otter Project (CUOP). I am involved in day-to-day management of CUOP and am also undertaking a research project investigating the prevalence ofToxoplamsma gondii in otter populations.

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