The vanishing otter
The otter disappeared from the Netherlands in 1989 because of water pollution and disturbance. Reintroduction started in 2002.
 |
 |
Trends
In the 19th century otters occurred throughout the Netherlands, but in the first half of the 20th century the species disappeared from many areas because of hunting. After 1942, when hunting was prohibited in most of the country, the population recovered somewhat: around 1962 there were an estimated 300 or so otters in the country. Thereafter, the population went into decline again. The last otter was found dead in a hoop net in Oosterbierum in 1989.
Otters live on the banks and shores of waterbodies. The reasons for their disappearance are the loss of suitable habitat, PCB pollution of water, and disturbance from pleasure craft and angling.
The species protection plan of 1989 contains numerous measures to improve the habitat for otters and recommends reintroduction. In July 2002 seven otters from Latvia, the Czech Republic and a Swedish project to breed Finnish otters were released in the Weerribben in northwest Overijssel.
The otter is on the Red List of mammals.
Technical note
The number of 5 x 5 km grid squares per period have been derived from the distribution maps in the Atlas van de Nederlandse Zoogdieren.
References
- Broekhuizen, S., B. Hoekstra, V. van Laar, C. Smeenk en J.B.M. Thissen (1992). Atlas van de Nederlandse Zoogdieren. Stichting Uitgeverij Koninklijke Nederlandse Natuurhistorische Vereniging. Utrecht.
- LNV (1989). Beschermingsplan otter. Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij. Den Haag.
