Why Saving Otters Means Saving Entire Ecosystems in Africa.
Otters are charismatic yet somewhat mystical animals in the general imagination of the humans they share a home with: if people know they exist, they seldom see them and often forget that they are, in fact, right there. Simply unseen, but very much present.
In South Africa, there are two species of otter: the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and the spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis).
The African clawless otter, also known as the Cape clawless otter or groototter, is the third largest otter species, reaching up to 20 kgs of weight. It is a favourite among otter researchers as its dark facial markings on a cream background make it one of the most beautiful species. True to its name, it has extremely reduced claws and webbing between its fingers, a feature that reflect its diet – it forages mainly for invertebrates (crustaceans, insects, molluscs.), amphibians and sometimes small fish with its sensitive and dextrous paws. This species can be found living alone or in family groups in a variety of habitats, from rivers and lakes to the coast, where its tracks on the sand are a joy to find. There are some breathtaking videos of snorkelers that come face to face with foraging otters in the ocean, truly a unique experience!
The spotted-necked otter is not easily confused with the African clawless otter, as it is much slimmer and lacks the clear markings of Aonyx on its face. The neck spots that give it its name can also be present as a large white patch or be completely absent, but in all cases are used to identify specific individuals, much like fingerprints in humans. It is more aquatic than the African clawless, swimming with skill and hunting a large variety of fish. Its paws are completely webbed and it is active during the day: groups of spotted-necked otters can be seen playing in lakes and reservoirs during their breaks from feeding.
The distribution of these two species of otter – the areas they can be found in – is constantly changing, depending on threats that push them away or new opportunities that open up areas that had been unavailable before. Main threats included illegal hunting, habitat fragmentation and loss, pollution, conflict with local communities and introduced species.
Otters, in general, are highly important in the ecosystem they live in. There are 14 species of otter in the world and each and every one of them can be considered essential! As an apex predator (a species that isn’t actively hunted by any other animal), they are:
An Umbrella species – if you aim to conserve otters, you will be conserving the entire ecosystem (animals, plants, inorganic components including water quality) they live in
A Bioindicator- if the ecosystem is in danger, the health of the otter population will decline
A Flagship species – a charismatic species that can be used to symbolise the area that needs protection
Although they are a very elusive species, making them the centre of attention for guests, tourists and local conservation efforts can be very rewarding. They are easily seen through strategically placed camera traps and leave clear tracks and signs, even in areas far from water – like all other otter species, they can travel great distances by land to find new areas to live in. With African clawless otters, we look for large tracks showing five toes without claws, whereas spotted-necked otters leave five tear-shaped toe tracks (the nail and the finger pad are nearly always “fused” together in their tracks).
The African Otter Network, together with the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group, strive to shift the focus of attention to otters, that need protection as much as any other animal and plant species of the world. Both groups have an abundance of educational material that can be used freely for children and adults of all ages, and both are highly receptive to requests for help and collaboration when it comes to otter conservation and awareness. The four species of otter in the whole African continent are poorly studied and still have lots of information to reveal: let’s all work together to help them become the focus of our conservation efforts!
Written for Rooikat Conservation by Margherita Bandini
Deputy Chair – Communication Coordinator IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group
“Discover nature and join local conservation initiatives! Visit Rooikat Conservation on Facebook to get involved!”
https://www.facebook.com/RooikatConservation
