Re-Introduction Of Otters - Support Or Risk For Otter Conservation?

At the VIIth IOC, there was concern over the increasing number of reintroduction projects not following IUCN guidelines. All members of the OSG are asked to contribute to the discussion. This article refers to my experience with the Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra. The guidelines, and the current situation of this species are discussed, concluding that in Europe, reintroductions do not fulfill IUCN guidelines. Otters are recovering naturally as the environment is cleaned up - we need to wait patiently for years if necessary. However, for this to happen, it is vital that areas where otter populations are strong should be protected, and money is better spent on this than on artificial reintroductions.