Project

Project name:

Implementation of selected conservation measures for the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Czech Republic

Duration: 2015–2017

Funding: EEA grants 2009–2014, Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

Supported by EEA Grants.

The project is funded by EEA grants 2009–2014 and the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic. The grant recipient is fully responsible for the content the web page, namely ALKA Wildlife o.p.s., and does not represent opinion of donors nor of the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic.

Programme: Small Grant Scheme Action Plans for Endangered Species II, Programme CZ02

Project leader: Kateřina Poledníková

Project aims:
The main aim is to implement selected conservation measures from the national Management Plan for the Eurasian otter in the Czech Republic. The two most important otter population threats are targeted by the project, namely: a) road mortality and b) illegal killing and intolerance of otters by fishermen.

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A1 Road mortality mitigation

The monitoring of otter road casualties is organised in order to identify priorities for implementation of mitigation measures. Based on the results of this monitoring, an online map presenting otter road mortality records and critical places for otters on roads has been created at vydrynasilnici.cz. It is designated for the...

A2 Estimation of otter abundance

One of the actions undertaken by the Czech national Otter Management Plan is population surveillance and mapping. Estimates of otter numbers in selected core areas are utilised to obtaining various additional information. These include otter population density, abundance, structure and development of the population trend in these areas. Information about...

A3 Otter mortality research

Dead otters are a valuable resource for population studies and there is great value in collecting carcases for post-mortem studies. Since 2008 ALKA Wildlife coordinates otter mortality research in the Czech Republic. About 50 carcasses are recorded yearly; each of which is subject to detailed investigations. Autopsies are undertaken in...

A4 Population viability analysis

Population viability analysis (PVA) is a species-specific method of risk assessment frequently used in conservation biology. It is traditionally defined as a process that determines the probability that a population will go extinct within a given number of years. A basic model, predicting the probability of extinction of the Czech...

A5 Web page vydryonline.cz

The website vydryonline.cz, providing complete information on otter biology, ecology and conservation issues, is launched as part of the project.

A6 Otter trail

Otter nature trail for general public was created along River Dyje between town Dacice and Stare Hobzi. A website about the trail will be launched as part of the project. Field trips and lectures about otters in the town of Dačice and its surroundings will be organised. www.vydristezky.cz

A7 Road construction authority meetings 

Meetings with Czech managers from road construction authorities will be organised in order to present the map of otter road deaths and, accordingly, highlight road sections where mitigation measures should be implemented with the highest priority. Also, the information on the new map app vydrynasilnici.cz will be provided along with...

A8 Conflict mitigation proposal

A detailed analysis of the conflict between the economic interests of fisheries and otter conservation in the Czech Republic will be provided in order to propose measures for the conflict mitigation. Various economic measures, such as otter-presence funding, improvement of an otter-induced damages compensation system, and legal amendments should be...

A9 Development of underwater “against otter fences”

Technical equipment protecting fish against otter attacks will be developed and tested. Currently one type of underwater “otter fences” are being tested in trout ponds where otters hunt regularly.

Media work

Minimally two press conferences and one press release are planned to raise awareness of otter topics – illegal killing and road mortality. Outputs: 30. 1. 2015 Press conference on illegal killing A press conference on the seriousness of the issue of illegal otter killing in the Czech Republic has been organised in...