Asia's most rare otter is found in Vietnam

During a recent field survey, a survey team had the opportunity to directly observe two individual hairy otters - the least known of the 13 otter species in the world - in U Minh National Park. Lower, Ca Mau province.

This is the first time the presence of the hairy-nosed otter has been confirmed in Vietnam since 2000, by experts from the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program.

Last March, while conducting an animal survey using night light, the team discovered two individuals of hairy hairy otters along a channel.

'We encountered these two when standing just over 2 meters away from them. This is a rare opportunity to see such a rare species in the wild, 'said Nguyen Van Nhuan, of the Carnivore Conservation Program and Pangolin.

The hairy-nosed otter was photographed by experts from the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program.Photos provided by the Program.

In the 1990s, the hairy otter was considered extinct in the world. However, after that, it was rediscovered in Cambodia, Thailand, and Sumatra. In Vietnam, the most recent record of them is conducted by the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in 2000, at U Minh Thuong National Park.

There is very little information about this species so they are currently listed as missing data in the IUCN Red List. However, the IUCN Otter Conservation Action Group has determined that the hairy-nosed otter is a species of international conservation importance. In the Vietnam Red Book 2007, this species is also listed as endangered.

Nose-haired otter is difficult to meet directly and most of them work at night. They eat fish, frogs, reptiles, and insects.

Mr. Nguyen Van The, Director of U Minh Ha National Park said: 'The hairy-nosed otter found here is a great information and we are willing to cooperate with the Predator and Teens Conservation Program. numb to continue conducting this important study ".

Vietnam is home to four otters, including the hairy otters (Lutra sumatrana), the smooth-haired otter (Lutra perspicillata), the common otter (Lutra lutra), and the small clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea). All four species are seriously threatened by the impact on their habitats and hunting for skin, medicine and meat.

The survey team is planning to continue the fieldwork in the U Minh peatland forests, especially the area between U Minh Ha National Park and U Minh Thuong because this could be a corridor for Wild animals move back and forth between the two reserves.