INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FUND (ESTABLISHED NOVEMBER 1993) 

Below is a list of projects which IOSF have either funded or collaborated with since our formation in 1993. 

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful rural area with a healthy otter population and it has always been IOSF’s aim to be involved in base-line practical otter research worldwide.  As well as international project funding we have also cared for many otters at the sanctuary in Scotland as well as giving advice for orphaned otters in Poland, Portugal, Canada, Nigeria, Ireland and India. 

1993    Established Otter rehabilitation center in Scotland.

            Otter survey in Gulf of Gokova, Turkey.

Otter survey and report on site of proposed superquarry, Lingerbay, Isle of Harris, Scotland.  

1994    Campaign with Professor Geraldo de Assis Guimaraes in Belem, Brazil about the threat to Neotropical and Giant otters from mercury poisoning.

Status of the Marine Otter on the central coast of Chile, Isla Cachagua.

Extensive otter survey of the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Otter survey of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.  

1995    The otter in protected areas and fish farms, Lithuania.

Campaigned with Legal Animal Defense Fund to stop killing American River Otters for fur.

             Set up joint scientific research programme to study the Eurasian Otter in the Central Forest Biosphere      Reserve, Russia.

Set up Otter Watch UK – an ongoing monitoring scheme for the Eurasian Otter in the UK.  

1996    Set up joint research programme on the Eurasian Otter in Ukraine.

Campaigned in Europe to stop the import of otter furs from USA.  

1997    Second phase of our otter rehabilitation facilities completed with new building and pens.

Otter survey of Isle of Raasay, Scotland.

Survey of the Eurasian Otter in the Sultan Marshes, Turkey.

             Installed wildlife-warning reflectors on a test section of trunk road, Isle of Skye, Scotland, to alleviate   otter road mortalities.

Study of the Giant Otter in Bita river, Vichada, Columbia.  

1998    Attended the VIIth International Otter Colloquium, Czech Republic.

Otter Survey of the Isle of Canna, Scotland.

             Campaigned against the use of Rotenone by the Norwegian government to control sea lice on salmon.    Rotenone kills all life in the rivers in which it is used.

Study of the Giant Otter on Potaro Plateau, Guyana.  

1999    The population and status of the Neotropical Otter in the Andean foothills, Venezuela.

            Campaigned again and helped the Legal Animal Defense Fund concerning the trapping of American River Otters in Missouri, USA.

             Funded the rehabilitation and release programme for a Smooth Coated Otter cub in Bangalore, India. The otter, Sushi, was successfully released back to the wild.

             Attended workshop on the conservation of Asian otters in Taiwan and set up research programme to investigate if the Hairy Nosed otter is still present in the wild.  

2000    IOSF’s project found the Hairy Nosed Otter in Phru Toa Dang Swamp Forest, Thailand.

Otter Survey of the Isle of Barra, Scotland.

Diet analysis of the Sea Cat in Chile.

Emergency appeal to help otters in the River Szamos and Tisza in Hungary after the Cyanide spill.

             Met with Irish MP’s in Dublin to campaign to stop illegal otter hunting in Cork and County          Limerick.

Supported a programme to study the Sea Otter on the Commander Islands, Russia.

             Organised the first international conference on pollutants and the effect on otters, on the Isle of Skye, attended by 45 delegates from all over Europe.

Monitoring the Southern River Otter in Argentina.

Otter survey of South Uist, Scotland.  

2001    Otter survey of the Isle of Eigg, Scotland.

Otter survey of north east Belarus.

             Installed wildlife-warning refectors on all danger areas on Skye roads after the initial trial reduced otter road deaths by 75%.

             Otter survey of the U Minh Thuong and Vo Doi Nature Reserves, Vietnam. Dr Dang and his team found more evidence of the existence of the Hairy Nosed Otter. 

2002    Research programme into the Smooth Coated Otter in Nepal.

             Survey of the status of otter populations in the proposed U Minh Ha Nature reserve, Ca Mau province, South Vietnam.

              A collaborative conservation approach to maintain the healthy otter (Lutra lutra) populations in          eastern Europe to provide a base for re-colonisation and re-introduction programmes for this endangered species in western Europe.

Proceedings of the Otter Toxicology Conference. Journal of the International Otter Survival Fund. Vol.1.

            Otter survey of Coll, Scotland. 

2003    Otter survey of Tiree, Scotland.

            Organised European otter conference, “The Return of the Otter in Europe – when and how”, attended by over 100 delegates from 23 countries.

            Feeding Ecology of the Marine otter in Southern Chile.

             Survey of the Smooth Indian Otter Lutra perspicillata in the Karnali River of Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal.

            Initial pollutant analysis for otter samples collected from PMs – the first analyses since the 1980s. 

           Assisted with rearing of American Otter cubs in Canada. 

2004    Education work and research to reduce the deaths of otters in fyke nets, Belarus.

Emergency appeal to investigate the dramatic decline of Sea Otters in the Bering Sea, Commander Islands.

            Otter survey of the Isle of Harris, Scotland.

            Joined PAW (Partnership for Action against Wildlife crime).

            Established the Alison Collyer Bursary to assist students to learn about otter survey techniques.

            First population study of the Eurasian otter in Georgia.