Kings of The River- Eurasian Otter

Latin name: Lutra lutra

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A pair of Eurasian otter cubs, courtesy of Nicole Duplaix

Arguably one of Britain's best loved species, the Eurasian otter can be found in waterways across the country, although they are more common in south-west England, Wales and Scotland due to declining number elsewhere. The species covers a vast range, from Western Europe all the way across Asia to countries such as China and parts of Indonesia, whilst can also be found in North Africa. In

Otters will populate almost any unpolluted body of freshwater including ponds, lakes and rivers and can also make the sea their home, provided they also have regular access to freshwater in order to clean and maintain their fur.

An otters' diet consists largely of fish, which is occasionally supplemented with amphibians and also with small birds if the opportunity arises. They are voracious predators and will consume up to 15% of their body weight from fish alone on a daily basis. Coast-dwelling otters tend to have a diet with a greater proportion of crustaceans, whose shells pose little problem for the incredibly powerful bite and jaw which the otter possesses.

Unlike some other species of otter, Eurasian otters are often highly territorial and usually live alone. Territories are marked using faeces and have been known to span an area equating to a total of 25 miles, although the average territory is a lot smaller. The size of a territory is based upon the amount of food available to hunt and the frequency of suitable hunting spots. However, territories are only held against fellow individuals of the same sex, so mating habits are left unaffected.

The otters are non-seasonal breeders and mating appears to be governed by sexual maturity as opposed to time of year. Mating takes place in the water, and usually produces about 1 to 4 pups after a gestation period lasting approximately 60 days. The pups will rely on their mother for just over a year, whilst the paternal male plays absolutely no role in their upbringing.

Otters are vulnerable to pollution and so have been badly affected by run-off of pesticides and other chemicals into waterways which they inhabit. Habitat loss is also a threat, with rivers being converted to canals and the removal of vegetation along the sides of banks the most prominent issues. Nevertheless, otter populations in the U.K and other parts of Europe is gradually recovering. This has been aided by reintroductions of otter populations in certain regions, whilst some areas have been managed as 'otter havens' which protect against human disturbance.


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