IOSF - International Otter Survival FundNovember 21, 2008 - Press Dispensary - A biological research team has just returned from a coastal survey trip in Southwest Cambodia where it discovered Oshi, a four month old otter cub of the extremely rare hairy-nosed otter breed, living in a village house. Apparently, he had been enjoying the hospitality of a fisherman’s family for about two months. This discovery is welcome news to the International Otter Survival Fund ( IOSF ), which works to protect endangered otter species.
Hairy-nosed otters were considered extinct in 1998. Since then, however, small populations have been found in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Sumatra. Very little is known about the hairy nosed otter and its habits, and the breed was previously thought to be restricted to freshwater swamp areas. The arrival of Oshi proves that the hairy nosed otter is, indeed, living in coastal areas of Cambodia.
Despite this discovery, the news for hairy nosed otters isn't all happy: their greatest threat is from the fur trade, with the majority of furs going to Tibet and China. For every tiger skin found, at least 10 otter skins exist, while one haul in Lhasa revealed 778 otter skins. IOSF has launched a campaign called Furget-Me-Not, as otters are the forgotten victims of wildlife crime.
Besides Oshi, one other hairy-nosed otter exists in captivity – another male called Dara, who is in Phnom Tamao Zoo in Phnom Penh. Dara, which means “star” or “precious” in Cambodian, has become a real “star” to the local people. He is raising awareness of the plight of otters in Cambodia and their importance to the environment.
IOSF is working with Conservation International Cambodia, carrying out community education work around Tonle Sap Lake, and training a national team of biology students and villagers. This is having a positive effect and local rangers and fishermen are now reporting illegal nets.
Fisherman Soun Sareun sometimes swaps his fishing nets for a compass and GPS to take part in the otter project – he wants to be a role model in his community. Paul Yoxon said: “This is the real way forward to counter the fur trade - by getting the community involved and providing a way for people to make a living without killing otters. The Cambodian people are seeing Dara and now don’t want to kill otters."
Oshi will go to Phnom Tamau where he'll stay in the quarantine area for a while then, hopefully, he can join Dara and together they can act as ambassadors for other otters.
Find out more at http://www.furgetmenot.org.uk or http://www.otter.org
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