REINTRODUCTION OF THE EURASIAN OTTER (LUTRA LUTRA) IN NORTHEASTERN SPAIN: TRAPPING, HANDLING, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

In 1993 a reintroduction project for the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) was initiated in northeastern Spain (Girona, Catalonia) to restore extirpated populations. Between 1996 and 2000, 43 otters were captured from southwestern and northern Spain and from Portugal with modified foot-hold traps and tra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine 2002-09, Vol.33 (3), p.222-227
Main Authors: Fernández-Morán, Jesus, Saavedra, Deli, Manteca-Vilanova, Xavier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal nesting
Animal traps
Animals
Animals, Wild - injuries
Animals, Wild - physiology
Animals, Wild - surgery
Antipsychotic Agents
Eurasian otter
Female
Female animals
Handling (Psychology)
Housing, Animal
Lesions
Locomotion
Lutra lutra
Male
medical management
Otters
Otters - injuries
Otters - physiology
Otters - surgery
Perphenazine
Physical trauma
reintroduction
Spain
Species reintroduction
translocation
Transportation
trapping
Trout
Zoos
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Summary:In 1993 a reintroduction project for the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) was initiated in northeastern Spain (Girona, Catalonia) to restore extirpated populations. Between 1996 and 2000, 43 otters were captured from southwestern and northern Spain and from Portugal with modified foot-hold traps and transported to Barcelona Zoo. Lesions produced by capture were classified into four categories of increasing severity. Thirty four (79%) animals had category I, three (7%) had category II, five (12%) had category III, and only one (2%) had category IV injuries. During captivity five (11%) animals died, including one from a precapture problem. Radiotransmitter devices were implanted i.p. into 36 otters to monitor postrelease movement and survival. At least three radio-implanted otters have bred successfully in Girona province, Catalonia, after release in that area.
ISSN:1042-7260
1937-2825
DOI:10.1638/1042-7260(2002)033[0222:ROTEOL]2.0.CO;2