Rare Otter Cub Found in Cambodia

November 21, 2008 - Press Dispensary (UK) - A biological research team has just returned from a coastal survey trip in Southwest Cambodia where it discovered Oshi, a four month old otter cub of the extremely rare hairy-nosed otter breed, living in a village house. Apparently, he had been enjoying the hospitality of a fisherman’s family for about two months. This discovery is welcome news to the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), which works to protect endangered otter species.

Hairy-nosed otters were considered extinct in 1998. Since then, however, small populations have been found in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Sumatra. Very little is known about the hairy nosed otter and its habits, and the breed was previously thought to be restricted to freshwater swamp areas. The arrival of Oshi proves that the hairy nosed otter is, indeed, living in coastal areas of Cambodia.

Despite this discovery, the news for hairy nosed otters isn't all happy: their greatest threat is from the fur trade, with the majority of furs going to Tibet and China. For every tiger skin found, at least 10 otter skins exist, while one haul in Lhasa revealed 778 otter skins. IOSF has launched a campaign called Furget-Me-Not, as otters are the forgotten victims of wildlife crime.

Besides Oshi, one other hairy-nosed otter exists in captivity – another male called Dara, who is in Phnom Tamao Zoo in Phnom Penh. Dara, which means “star” or “precious” in Cambodian, has become a real “star” to the local people. He is raising awareness of the plight of otters in Cambodia and their importance to the environment.

IOSF is working with Conservation International Cambodia, carrying out community education work around Tonle Sap Lake, and training a national team of biology students and villagers. This is having a positive effect and local rangers and fishermen are now reporting illegal nets.

Fisherman Soun Sareun sometimes swaps his fishing nets for a compass and GPS to take part in the otter project – he wants to be a role model in his community. Paul Yoxon said: “This is the real way forward to counter the fur trade - by getting the community involved and providing a way for people to make a living without killing otters. The Cambodian people are seeing Dara and now don’t want to kill otters."

Oshi will go to Phnom Tamau where he'll stay in the quarantine area for a while then, hopefully, he can join Dara and together they can act as ambassadors for other otters.

Find out more at http://www.furgetmenot.org.uk or http://www.otter.org

Blog: 'The bachelor' in Cambodia

Dara takes a dip: Its hoped his species of hairy-nosed otters will see an upturn in numbers.

Fri September 5, 2008
By CNN's Eunice Yoon

(CNN) -- When you first meet Dara, you can't help but fall for him.

He's cute, lovable, and managed to charm my entire crew when we visited him outside the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

OK. Dara isn't a hunky bachelor with his own reality TV show but a hairy-nosed otter who arguably has a higher calling: To revive his species from the verge of extinction.

If only he could find a wife.

Dara is the first of his kind to be bred in captivity as part of a plan by conservationists and Cambodian officials to save the hairy-nosed otter.

Up until the 1990's, it was believed the rare otter was extinct, driven into history by poachers who hunted -- and still hunt -- otters for their smooth, water-resistant fur pelts.

These pelts are sold on the black market for $150 a skin and shipped to countries such as China where the fur is used in traditional costumes.

Conservationists told us the underground trade of exotic animals is thriving and leading to what they call "empty forests".

They say certain species of turtles, bears, otters, and other wildlife are getting harder to find as the animals and their parts are illegally trafficked via third countries such as Vietnam.

Many of the animals are valued for medicinal purposes. Others are just kept as pets.

Even Dara was being kept at a home in a fishing village at the Tonle Sap Lake before he was rescued by local rangers.

Dara now lives in his enclosure at the zoo where he eagerly awaits the arrival of any female hairy-nosed otter.

Conservationists aren't sure animal rescue workers will ever find him a partner.

But even if they don't, Dara, whose name means "precious" or "star" in the Cambodian language, is already using his star power better than your average TV heartthrob -- by raising awareness of the need to protect his species.

Cigar-smoking hairy-nosed otter?

Cambodia's Phnom Tamau Zoo is a nonsmoking zoo, despite what Dara may lead you to believe. Dara is the only known hairy-nosed otter in legal captivity in the world. The stogie is a fish: Close but no cigar.

Rare otter gets sanctuary in Cambodian zoo

Buddhist monks bless Dara, a hairy-nosed otter, as it is released Tuesday into its new home at the Phnom Tamau Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia. (Photo: Annette Olsson / Conservation International via AFP-Getty Images)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP) — The world's only captive hairy-nosed otter is living in a new home in a Cambodian zoo, in a move conservation officials said Wednesday could help ensure survival of the rare species.

The young male named Dara was released into its new home Tuesday at Phnom Tamau Zoo, located near Phnom Penh, said representatives from Conservation International (CI).

Two Buddhist monks walked into the enclosure with Dara to bless the animal's new home, following Cambodian tradition.

"Scientists recommend establishing of a breeding population in captivity to ensure survival of this species," said Annette Olsson, a CI researcher in Cambodia.

"Dara could be the founder of such a captive population, if and when we find him a wife, of course," she said.

The animal, a member of the rarest of otter species, had a fraught journey to the enclosure. It was first rescued when its mother was killed by a fisherman in Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake, Olsson said.

Dara then lived at the Angkor Zoo in Cambodia's tourist hub Siem Reap, she said. But authorities closed the zoo last year after scores of rare animals disappeared or died.

Hairy-nosed otters were thought to have been extinct until they were re-discovered less than a decade ago.

They are now known to live in a few areas in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Sumatra, and are threatened by illegal fur trade and loss of habitat due to climate change.