field expeditions — Southwest cambodia

Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)
Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

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The survey findings for otters were very encouraging, especially in light of recent findings from other regional areas, which in general have indicated widespread declines. The rivers and other wetlands of southwest Cambodia may well be the most significant areas for otters remaining in Indochina, as certainly no areas remain in Laos or Vietnam of similar significance, and in the rest of Cambodia it is clear that otters are now generally restricted to remote river systems. The lowlands of the southwest may be particularly significant because of the presence of Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana), the most threatened otter species in the world. The survey area encompasses habitat types, which particularly on the basis of recent findings, appear to be favored by the species, essentially lowlands with forested wetlands, especially those in areas of coastal Melaleuca. The southwest of Cambodia likely supports one of the largest and most contiguous area of such habitat in eastern mainland SE Asia. The extent of coastal wetlands in the southwest is also approximately equivalent to the extent of seasonally inundated forests around the Tonle Sap. Although Hairy-nosed Otters may persist in (perhaps even in many) small isolated remnants of forested wetland habitats (such as those in Vietnam and Thailand where the species has been found), conservation of both the species and biodiversity in general will be better served by concentrating effort on larger tracts that have intrinsic biodiversity conservation value beyond single species.

A juvenile Hairy-nosed Otter that was found on the survey is direct proof of previously unknown population. The illegal hunting and trade in otter skins and parts has decimated many populations of this species. The Hairy-nosed otter, which has been confirmed still alive in six countries (Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Burma [Myanmar]), is hindered by the lack of appropriate field studies of the range. The hairy-nosed was re-listed from Data Deficient to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.