This report showcases data from the new national survey in the historical range of Lutra lutra in Italy.
Forty years after the last national survey, coordinated by WWF Italy and carried out from spring 1984 to autumn 1985, a new survey was performed and presents important updates on the distribution of this species, which was already at risk of extinction in the mid-1970s and is still considered at risk in Italy today.
In particular, the study focused on those areas where the Eurasian otter was considered extinct or showed rare and isolated sightings.
Field activities were concentrated in 12 regions of central and northern Italy, where historically the species has suffered the greatest decline. A contact person was identified for each region to coordinate the census activities and, in addition to researchers specializing in the species, collaborators from other organizations also contributed to the activities.
This survey was promoted and funded by WWF Italy in collaboration with the University of Molise in the person of Anna Loy, one of the world’s leading experts on the species and Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group, with the patronage of the IUCN – Species Survival Commission, the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group and the Italian Otter Network (Lontra Italia).
Read the whole report here.
