OTTER NEWS - The International Otter Survival Fund

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IRISH OTTER SANCTUARYOn 31 May, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) officiallyopened their new Otter and Wildlife Sanctuary at Longford and Paul Yoxon was honouredto be asked to officiate at the opening ceremony.You may remember that lastyear one of IOSF’s supporters inIreland, Bernie Murphy, asked Paulover to advise on setting up thefacility. At that time the area was justgrassland and scrub but what adramatic change. Countless hoursof hard work have resulted in atwo-acre site with a small lake andshallower wetland area which can beused to rehabilitate Irish otters.In recent times, otter numbers have been declining in the Irish Midlands but theISPCA owns about 100 acres which also provides excellent habitat for wild otters. Themain reasons for the decline are poisoning, shooting, netting in lakes and rivers, andpollution. Furthermore many of the wetlands used by toads and frogs as spawninggrounds have been lost, mainly as a result of the large-scale peat harvesting from thebogs, intensive farming and building development.2Barbara Bent, James Bannon TD, Paul Yoxon, Mark Beazley (General Manager, ISPCA), Bernie Murphy & John QuinnApril 2006 - Before lake construction begins
The opening was attended by local Irish MP, James Bannon TD, Barbara Bent, Chairpersonof the ISPCA and various members of the press. The publicity will also draw attention tothe otters in Ireland and how important it is to look after them.May 2007 - After lake constructionWe were given such a warm welcome in Ireland and the link between IOSF and ISPCA willcontinue as they intend to come over and visit our Skye facility to learn more about thepractical side of caring for orphaned and injured otters.For more information on the ISPCA go to www.ispca.ie‘LIVING HOLTS’ – A DIFFERENT DESIGN IN OTTER HOLTSHere is a brilliant design for artificial holts from Jonathan Bramley, Kent County MammalRecorder & Ecological Consultant.I had the privilege some years ago of working for both Kent and then Sussex WildlifeTrusts as their Otter & River Project/Wetland Officer (OARP Officer). In this role , like manyother Wetland Officers, I promoted and installed artificial otter holts along waterways in myarea ranging from the River Stour in east Kent to the River Rother on the Hampshire/WestSussex border. These holts were and are still needed in many areas, such as SE England,where wholesale removal of riparian trees was undertaken during the last century. Thisremoval changed the riparian environment for many organisms and otters lost many of3
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Page 7 and 8: And finally!!! We have to say thank
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Page 13 and 14: OTTER ROAD MITIGATIONIOSF has been
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OTTER NEWS - The International Otter Survival Fund

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