Caroline Leuchtenberger

Conservation Status and Diet of Giant Otter Groups in the Southern Pantanal

Giant otters are a flagship species but threatened in its original distribution, mainly by human threats. Since 2003 giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) groups have been monitored in the Vermelho river in the Southern Pantanal and this work has provided valuable information about the biology of this threatened species as well as highlighting the need for data critical to its conservation. Nevertheless, little is known about population status and other aspects of ecology and behaviour of this species in the other regions of the Pantanal.

In addition, fisheries are one of the main economic activities of the local population in the Pantanal, and because the giant otter diet is based on fish, interactions between fishermen and otters are frequently antagonistic. During this research giant otters will be studied across three rivers on the Southern Pantanal of Brazil: Vermelho river, Negro river and Cuiabá river. Giant otter groups inhabiting the tributaries will be located and the status of those populations will be determined. The latrines of these groups will be collected to identify the fish species that compose the diet of giant otters.

Interviews will be carried out with the local populations to know the mainly fish species which are capture by humans in these areas to compare with the diet of giant otters. Finally environmental education plans with local fisheries we will be created to reduce conflicts between otters and fishermen.

For further information contact caroleucht@gmail.com