Hairy-nosed Otter
Encyclopedia
The Hairy-nosed Otter is one of the rarest otter
species on earth. Until 1998, it was thought to have been extinct. However, since then small populations have been discovered.
Head-body length: 20 to 32 in (50.8 to 81.3 cm)
Tail length: 14 to 20 in (35.6 to 50.8 cm)
, Toa Daeng peat swamp forest in southern Thailand
, and in Sumatra
, the place for which it was named. It was rediscovered in 2005. It was also rediscovered in Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia
. Even from these places, they are known from a tiny number of sightings and some roadkill, and from skins.
In June 2008, the Wildlife Alliance-led Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team received a donated Hairy-nosed Otter originating near the Tonle Sap
in Cambodia. Working with Conservation International
, they established a safe home for the rescued otter at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, however the otter, who had been frequently sick throughout its life in captivity died of unknown causes in February 2010. Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center rescued another Hairy-nosed Otter in July 2010 and hope it will become part of a future captive breeding program. This is currently the only known Hairy-nosed Otter in captivity.
Another record of the species was on September 2008 in U Minh Ha National Park in southern Vietnam
when researchers from the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program said they have found two hairy-nosed otters.
After being assumed to be “non-existent” in the state of Sabah
, Malaysia for the last 100 years, the otter was rediscovered using a series of camera trap
s in 2010. The same study also confirmed the presence of several other endangered species. Director of Sabah Forestry Department Datuk Sam Mannan said: “These findings show that long-term sustainable forest management is of great importance for the protection of some of this country’s most threatened species and of the unique biodiversity of the forests of Borneo.”
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
species on earth. Until 1998, it was thought to have been extinct. However, since then small populations have been discovered.
Measurements
Weight: 11 to 13 lb (5 to 5.9 kg)Head-body length: 20 to 32 in (50.8 to 81.3 cm)
Tail length: 14 to 20 in (35.6 to 50.8 cm)
Identification
The hairy-nosed Otter is the least known of the Asian otters, and is also the most difficult to identify in the field. The hairy-nosed Otter gets its name from the hairs on the end of its rhinarium (moist part of its nose); in most other respects it is similar to Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra. Hairy-nosed Otter is entirely brown, except for lips, chin and upper throat, which are whitish. Fur is rather rough but short. The tail is flattened and oval in cross section. Feet are fully webbed between the digits. Claws are prominent. The penis of the adult male is not visible externally. The contact call between otters is a single-syllabic chirp; adult females call to cubs with a staccato chatter. Large otters are very similar and can be positively distinguished only by close inspection of the nose and fur, or the skull. In this species, skull is flatter than that of Smooth Otter, Lutrogale perspicillataI and has smaller teeth.Ecology and habitat
The hairy-nosed otter can be found in coastal areas and on larger inland rivers, solitary or in groups of up to four. Diet includes fish and crustaceans. Pairing of male and female may be limited to the breeding period.Distribution and status
South East Asia: Myanmar, South Thailand, Cambodia, South Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia. Include Sumatra and Borneo. Extremely few individuals survive in Vietnam, southern Thailand, Sumatra and Cambodia, being menaced by poaching.Sightings
At present, it is believed to live mainly in two nature reserves in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Toa Daeng peat swamp forest in southern Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, the place for which it was named. It was rediscovered in 2005. It was also rediscovered in Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Even from these places, they are known from a tiny number of sightings and some roadkill, and from skins.
In June 2008, the Wildlife Alliance-led Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team received a donated Hairy-nosed Otter originating near the Tonle Sap
Tonlé Sap
The Tonlé Sap is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia.The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997....
in Cambodia. Working with Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
, they established a safe home for the rescued otter at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, however the otter, who had been frequently sick throughout its life in captivity died of unknown causes in February 2010. Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center rescued another Hairy-nosed Otter in July 2010 and hope it will become part of a future captive breeding program. This is currently the only known Hairy-nosed Otter in captivity.
Another record of the species was on September 2008 in U Minh Ha National Park in southern Vietnam
Southern Vietnam
For the former country, see South VietnamSouthern Vietnam is one of the three regions within Vietnam .The largest city in the South is Ho Chi Minh City, the nation's largest city....
when researchers from the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program said they have found two hairy-nosed otters.
After being assumed to be “non-existent” in the state of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, Malaysia for the last 100 years, the otter was rediscovered using a series of camera trap
Camera trap
A camera trap is a remotely activated camera that is equipped with a motion sensor or an infrared sensor, or uses a light beam as a trigger. Camera trapping is a method for capturing wild animals on film when researchers are not present, and has been used in ecological research for decades...
s in 2010. The same study also confirmed the presence of several other endangered species. Director of Sabah Forestry Department Datuk Sam Mannan said: “These findings show that long-term sustainable forest management is of great importance for the protection of some of this country’s most threatened species and of the unique biodiversity of the forests of Borneo.”