Scottish charity steps in to help rare otter

Published on Friday 30 May 2008 23:38

ONE of the world's rarest otters is being helped out by donations from a Scottish-based charity.

Dara, a male hairy-nosed otter, had been kept as a fisherman's pet in Cambodia. He ended up in a small illegal zoo, which was closed down by the government.

The otter, along with other animals, was donated to Phnom Tamau Zoo near Phnom Penh.

Now the International Otter Survival Fund on Skye has provided the Cambodian zoo with funding to help look after Dara. He is the only one of his species to be kept legally in captivity.

Grace Yoxon, of Isof, said the charity was also providing funds for the care of ten smooth-coated otters.

"Dara is being built a new pen and now a regular fish supply is ensured," she said.

Hairy-nosed otters had previously been thought extinct. They were popular with fishermen in Cambodia, who hunted them for the fur trade.

Otters are listed on the database of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an agreement between governments aims to ensure trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Isof is backing a campaign to help end the illegal killing of rare otters in south-east Asia and the trade in their furs.