Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

The Asian small-clawed otter is still found in many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Thailand,where it frequents streams, rivers, marshy wetlands, and the sea coasts. Outstanding numbers are foundin the western-forested arm and in the marshy wetlands in southern Thailand, including Nung Tung TongReserve and Pattani and Songkla Provinces.The smooth otter still occurs in the Huay Kha Khaeng Reserve in western Thailand; in the Tapi River,Phru-Toa-Dang Peat Swamp Forest, Bang Lan Dam and Ao Phangnga National Park in the south; andin the Mun River in the northeast.Legal StatusAll four otter species were officially declared protected wild animals of the first category by theMinisterial Regulation No. 10 in 1975, in accordance with the Wild Animals Reservation and ProtectionAct B.E. 2503 1960). According to this act, no persons shall kill protected wild animals of the firstcategory except for educational purposes or scientific research. Trading of otter skins and carcasses isalso prohibited by law.Threats1. Municipal, agricultural, and industrial wastes in most waterways throughout Thailand have severelythreatened otter populations.2. Habitat destruction, including logging and hydroelectric projects which alter river systems, havereduced the habitat available to otters. The hydroelectric dams replace natural rivers with steepsidedreservoirs devoid of surrounding cover and thus unsuitable for otter habitation. The changingof mangrove forest into shrimp and fish aquaculture projects also diminishes otter habitats and putsotters in more direct competition with man.3. Competition with people for fish supplies has resulted direct killing of otters in areas where theywould otherwise, occur.4. Insufficient enforcement of existing wildlife laws and reserved areas provide little more than "paper"protection for otters and their remaining habitats.Conservation Priorities1. A complete survey of otters and their remaining handles needs to be initiated quickly to pinpointareas of critical concern for each otter species. Efforts should be made to determine areas wheresmall pockets of the Eurasian otter and the hairy-nosed otter might still occur.2. Habitats that still contain otter populations should be declared “otter reserves” and legal actionshould be taken to protect these areas. Existing protected areas also need to be more closelymonitored and protected.3. Public education programs should be initiated to develop awareness of the importance ofconservation of otters and other wetland inhabitants and of a clean environment in general.4. Reintroduction programs should not be considered at this time; efforts should focus instead onprotecting the habitats of the remaining otters in Thailand. Only if and when the overall pollutionproblems are solved, can otters be reintroduced into areas where they now no longer occur.TurkeyAsian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Action Plan83