Summary of Husbandry Guidelines for the Eurasian Otter in Captivity

• Main Authors: Carol J. Heap, Lionel Lafontaine, David Field, Dirk Ullrich
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Lutra lutra
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.663.152; http://iucnosg.org/Library/TaskForces/OCT/Eurasian_Otter_Lutra_lutra_Husbandry_OCT.pdf

These guidelines have been written by an international body of professionals to provide for institutions and individuals a basic standard of care required when keeping the Eurasian Otter (EO), Lutra lutra, in captivity. The following recommendations have either a sound scientific basis or are the result of experience gained over many years of working with this species. II Natural History Currently, there are thirteen species of otters recognized within the Mustelidae family. The Eurasian Otter (EO) also is known as the European Otter, the Common Otter and the Old World Otter. Over its global range the EO is listed in the IUCN/SSC Red Lists as “Near Threatened ” with declining numbers. Increasing population levels now mean this species is classified, in some countries, as locally of “Least Concern ” as of 2010. EO’s have the largest distribution of all otters and are found throughout Europe extending as far north as the Arctic Circle, into northern Africa and across most of Asia; many subspecies are identified throughout its range. Typical EO habitat is varied, incorporating many different ecosystems and climatic zones, due to its widespread distribution. EO’s can