Things You Know

Threat Status
With only 1 known individual in captivity, and an estimated 86 in the wild, the hairy-nosed otter is one of the rarest otter species on Earth. Until 1998, it was presumed extinct, and only rediscovered in 2005[1].

Factors Causing Decline[3]

1) Illegal wildlife trade. The hairy-nosed otter is sometimes hunted for its meat and medical uses, but more often for wildlife trade or otter pelt.

Under the IUCN Red List the global standard for conservation status listing it is a threatened species classified as endangered, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction.

Otter pelt sells up to $200, an attractive reward to poor hunters!

Geographic Distribution
Hairy-nosed otters are endemic to Southeast Asia, having been found in Myanmar and Peninsular Malaysia, including Sumatra and Borneo. Extremely few individuals survive in Vietnam, southern Thailand, Sumatra and Cambodia[2].

Poaching is particularly rampant around Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. 2) Habitat loss. The remaining pristine tropical peat swamps are under immense threat from unnatural fires, and human activities such as, agriculture, palm oil plantations, and fish farming.

Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)

Conserving this Southeast Asian Gem

They live in

Profile

Deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, 2000 2010[4]

3) Overharvesting of prey species. Hairy-nosed otters are facing a lack of resources to thrive as water snakes and fishes are being overharvested in Mekong Delta. 4) Accidental killings. As humans encroach on their habitat, otters end up as road-kill, are killed in traps set for other animals like wild boars and fish, or are mistaken for pests.

Why Should We Preserve Them?

1) Crucial ecological role, maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore ecosystem The hairy-nosed otter preys on a large number of species, including fishes, water snakes, and mammals [5]. It thus keeps the populations of numerous species in check.
Another species the sea otter (left) is a keystone species that controls sea urchin populations and the health of kelp forests, and in doing so, reduces atmospheric carbon levels[6]. So little is known about the hairy-nosed otter, but it could potentially play similarly important roles.

Challenges in Conservation[6]
The hairy-nosed otter is listed in Appendix II of the CITES (Convention of the International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), giving it legal protection in all the range countries[5]. In reality, this species has received little protection, due to 1) Lack of local law enforcement against illegal poaching.

Conservation Plan
1) Management of land and water areas where the otters are found
habitat restoration as the ultimate aim

2) Captive breeding for reintroduction may be successful if the species were better understood.

2) Indicator of pollution. A strict carnivore, the hairynosed otter, like other otters, is an important indicator species of the quality of swamp and mangrove forests and the waters near its habitat. Pollutants in the environment concentrates in otters over time in a process known as biomagnification. The health and size of the local otter population warns of contamination in the environment where humans get their water and food. 3) Preserve biodiversity of Southeast Asia. The hairy-nosed otter is one of only two otter species in Southeast Asia. The other, the Asian small-clawed otter, is a vulnerable species facing similar threats. Conservation efforts targeted at the hairynosed otter will also benefit the Asian smallclawed otter.

Poverty in SE Asia makes the easy money from illegal wildlife trade and otter pelt very attractive, and corruption means poachers get away with their illegal gains.

It is possible to breed the first captive hairy-nosed otter with enough resources and effort, just as the Singapore Zoo has bred the first tropical polar bear.

3) Education and training in awareness communication

raise awareness among the legislators enable legislators to communicate awareness to the people

2) Little understanding of this species importance among decision-makers. The hairy-nosed otter is the least known of Asian otters, the most difficult to identify in the field, and often overlooked compared to high status species like tigers and elephants, leading to lack of funding, research and conservation action on this species.

4) Incentives to locals in terms of alternative livelihoods, enterprises and economics

such that they would not resort to illegal poaching

5) Enforcement of legislation
initiative by the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) in its Furget-Me-Not campaign to work with local people[7]

A bottom-up approach, even on a small scale, is proving more effective than top-down campaigns working at national and international levels.
References
1. Lubis, R. (2005) First Recent Record of Hairy-Nosed Otter in Sumatra, Indonesia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 18(1): 14 20. 2. Payne, J., and Francis, C. M. (1985) A field guide to the mammals of Borneo, p 278, ISBN 9679994716. 3. Wright, L., Olsson, A. and Kanchanasaka, B. (2008) A working review of the hairynosed otter (Lutra sumatrana). Bulletin of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, 25: 38-59. 4. Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com (July 15, 2012).Charts: deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, 2000-2010. 5. Hussain, S.A., Kanchanasakha, B., de Silva, P.K. & Olson, A. 2008. Lutra sumatrana. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 6. Dang, N.X., Anh, P.Y. and Tuyen, L.H. (2001) New information about the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Vietnam. Bulletin of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, 18: 64-75. 7. Furget-Me-Not (May, 2010) http://www.furgetmenot.org.uk/

Rapid development driven by an agriculture and logging industries is seen as more important than sustainable development.

3) Challenge to maintain in captivity. Although its limited distribution and rarity of sightings make the hairynosed otter a good candidate for ex-situ conservation, it often succumbs to diseases and illnesses in captivity.

Contribution List
Candice: Researching and compiling information, finding pictures Yang Qian: Researching and compiling information, finding pictures Angela: Finding pictures, extracting information, designing brochure

References (Bigger)
1. 2. 3. 4. Lubis, R. (2005) First Recent Record of Hairy-Nosed Otter in Sumatra, Indonesia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 18(1): 14 20. Payne, J., and Francis, C. M. (1985) A field guide to the mammals of Borneo. Kuala Lumpur:Weng fatt sdn. bhd. p 278, ISBN 9679994716. Wright, L., Olsson, A. and Kanchanasaka, B. (2008) A working review of the hairynosed otter (Lutra sumatrana). Bulletin of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, 25: 38-59. Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com (July 15, 2012).Charts: deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, 2000-2010. Hussain, S.A., Kanchanasakha, B., de Silva, P.K. & Olson, A. 2008. Lutra sumatrana. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Dang, N.X., Anh, P.Y. and Tuyen, L.H. (2001) New information about the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) in Vietnam. Bulletin of the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, 18: 64-75. Furget-Me-Not (May, 2010) http://www.furgetmenot.org.uk/

5.
6. 7.

Image Credits
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080618094346.htm http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/otter-vn/ http://sr.photos3.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP952/k9520363.jpg http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12421/0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy-nosed_otter http://ibanorum.netfirms.com/forest.htm http://ocean.si.edu/mangroves http://www.123rf.com/photo_827803_aerial-view-of-shallow-coastal-waters-andforests-of-the-tropical-coast-of-mozambique-southern-afric.html http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume25/Wright_et_al_2008.html http://4.bp.blogspot.com/x8N610fCLd8/UNOFJgD8prI/AAAAAAAADpQ/vCXb_ixz3qk/s320/River+Otter+skin.JPG http://photos.mongabay.com/12/SEASIA-peat-cover-change.jpg http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Species/Aonyx_cinereus.html