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Minh Thuong's otters face survival fight, |
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HA NOI &emdash; Scientists have warned that two rare species of otter living in the U Minh Thuong National Park are in danger of extinction because of clearing of their habitat and hunting by villagers. The scientists told a recent workshop in southern province of Kien Giang that the both the small-clawed otter [Amblonyx cinerea] and hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) are under serious threat. There are two other less threatened species of otters living in Viet Nam, the common otter (Lutra lutra) and smooth-coated otter (Lutra perspicillapa). While around the world, 13 species of otter have been identified. Four of those can be found in Africa, five in Asia, one in Europe, five in Latin America and two in North America. The hairy-nosed otter is the rarest of the species in Asia and as such has been given priority protection status. It has a distinctive hairy nose and hard claws. Its body's length is 50-94cm, while its tail measures 30-58cm. An adult of the species weighs 5 &endash; 7kg. The otter is nocturnal, spending the day in holes dug in riverbanks. It eats mainly fish, crabs, frogs, snakes mice and insects. The hairy-nosed otter was first discovered in Viet Nam by a team of foreign scientists working in the Central region in 1932. Nine years later, another scientist discovered the species in Long Xuyen, An Giang and Hue. In 1977, specimens of the hairy-nosed otter were picked up by a group of scientists from the Viet Nam Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in the southernmost province of Ca Mau and the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Can Tho. From that point on, despite numerous investigations around the country, the animal was not sighted until 2000, when a research team discovered footprints and droppings from the species during a survey in U Minh Thuong National Park. The team went on to discover both the hairy-nosed otter and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinarea) living in the park. But scientists are still not sure of the exact size of both populations. What the experts do know is that the animals are facing an increasing threat as their habitat is sacrificed to residential growth and industry. Before 1930, the wilderness area that is now U Minh Thuong National Park was 142,000ha, but by 1975, this had been reduced to 100,000ha, and in 1978 it was 21,800ha. Now the area, which was officially recognised as a national park early this year, covers only 8,000ha. Experts warn that the otters are now having to move outside the park boundaries to search for food. And the animals are also being threatened by poaching. Since 1990, hunters have been targeting otters in order to profit from the trade in their skins. A small otter-skin is worth about VND200,000-300,000, while a big one can fetch VND600,000-800,000. The poaching problem is compounded by the fact that the animals' gall bladders and claws are used in traditional medicines. It is estimated that over the past decade, otter numbers in Viet Nam have decreased 60 per cent as a result of poaching. In response to these threats, local scientists have moved to ensure the survival of the nation's rare otter species. Nguyen Xuan Dang from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources says that a draft action plan has been drawn up to preserve the hairy-nosed otter. The three year action plan will be implemented will help from both the national and international scientific communities. It involves investigating the distribution of the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and organising formal supervision of the species in U Minh Thuong park and neighbouring areas. &emdash; VNS |