It is quite ironic that we have two laws to protect our wildlife but time and time again they cannot be enforced. Let me give you three examples in the last few months. The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and also the EC Habitats Directive implemented through the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994. These mean that it is an offence for any person to intentionally kill, injure or take otters.
And yet three otters have recently lost their lives through stupidity and deliberate criminal acts. The cases all involve otters from different areas which have been killed or wilfully taken from the wild.
And yet three otters have recently lost their lives through stupidity and deliberate criminal acts. The cases all involve otters from different areas which have been killed or wilfully taken from the wild.
The first case came to light early in the year, when an adult male otter was found severely injured in a byre in north Skye. Upon veterinary examination, it turned out that the otter had been caught in a snare which was now embedded in its body. The otter had been so desperate to get away that it had pulled the snare away with it and dragged it to the byre. Despite expert care it died as a result of its severe injuries, but no prosecution was ever made.
More recently, an otter was found dead on a beach, only a short distance from the snared otter. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) routinely sends any dead otters found to the Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Investigation Centre in Inverness for post mortem. When this was carried out it was discovered that this otter had in fact been shot.
The Police are actively investigating both cases and the bullet has been retained for forensic investigation. The fact that both otters were found within two miles of each other suggests that the two may be linked.
In the third case, the otter is still alive and well but a serious crime has been committed. It was picked up in Perthshire by the SSPCA after being found asleep on someone’s sofa! It was taken to the SSPCA Wildlife Unit at Middlebank where it was checked over and found to be perfectly healthy and then it was transferred to the IOSF otter sanctuary on Skye.
So how can we say that this otter has lost its life? It is six months old and healthy BUT TAME.
IOSF spokesman, Dr Paul Yoxon, said “This otter has lost its life. She deserves to live wild and free but instead someone has condemned her to a life of captivity. A wild animal which is not brought up properly becomes imprinted and this is what has happened to her. She walks up to you and is not afraid. She does not try to protect herself if you approach and she will not go in water. How can you release such an animal?
Presumably someone has seen this cute little cub, and they are gorgeous when they are little, and decided to keep her as a pet. Now that she is bigger and becoming more of a handful she has been dumped. Maybe the person had children and was worried they could be bitten but this is no excuse. This otter simply could not survive in the wild – otters stay with their mother until they are about a year old and if she had not been found she would have slowly starved to death.
We rear several otter cubs a year and they have to stay with us until they are about 12-14 months old so that they are released at the same age as they would naturally be leaving their mother. It is vital that human contact is kept to an absolute minimum if they are to be released as WILD otters. Each of our cubs will always try to avoid people and will hide and bite if someone tries to go too near. This is their natural reaction and it is necessary for them to survive in the wild. An animal which has been imprinted is not only at risk from people but could also be dangerous if allowed to go free as it would seek human company.”
This latest otter has also been reported to the Police who are investigating the situation as there are possible crimes under both the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and also the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
Paul Yoxon stated finally “although the population in Scotland is relatively healthy, elsewhere in its range it is extremely rare and they are classed as “vulnerable” in the World Conservation Union’s Red Data Book. In most cases otters are most at risk from being killed on the roads but here we have three which have been lost to the wild population through deliberate acts.
We know that the SSPCA and the Police are trying to bring prosecutions but so often their hands are simply tied. However, IOSF will be pushing to ensure that the people responsible are prosecuted and that the laws which are here to protect our wildlife are enforced.”
More recently, an otter was found dead on a beach, only a short distance from the snared otter. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) routinely sends any dead otters found to the Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Investigation Centre in Inverness for post mortem. When this was carried out it was discovered that this otter had in fact been shot.
The Police are actively investigating both cases and the bullet has been retained for forensic investigation. The fact that both otters were found within two miles of each other suggests that the two may be linked.
In the third case, the otter is still alive and well but a serious crime has been committed. It was picked up in Perthshire by the SSPCA after being found asleep on someone’s sofa! It was taken to the SSPCA Wildlife Unit at Middlebank where it was checked over and found to be perfectly healthy and then it was transferred to the IOSF otter sanctuary on Skye.
So how can we say that this otter has lost its life? It is six months old and healthy BUT TAME.
IOSF spokesman, Dr Paul Yoxon, said “This otter has lost its life. She deserves to live wild and free but instead someone has condemned her to a life of captivity. A wild animal which is not brought up properly becomes imprinted and this is what has happened to her. She walks up to you and is not afraid. She does not try to protect herself if you approach and she will not go in water. How can you release such an animal?
Presumably someone has seen this cute little cub, and they are gorgeous when they are little, and decided to keep her as a pet. Now that she is bigger and becoming more of a handful she has been dumped. Maybe the person had children and was worried they could be bitten but this is no excuse. This otter simply could not survive in the wild – otters stay with their mother until they are about a year old and if she had not been found she would have slowly starved to death.
We rear several otter cubs a year and they have to stay with us until they are about 12-14 months old so that they are released at the same age as they would naturally be leaving their mother. It is vital that human contact is kept to an absolute minimum if they are to be released as WILD otters. Each of our cubs will always try to avoid people and will hide and bite if someone tries to go too near. This is their natural reaction and it is necessary for them to survive in the wild. An animal which has been imprinted is not only at risk from people but could also be dangerous if allowed to go free as it would seek human company.”
This latest otter has also been reported to the Police who are investigating the situation as there are possible crimes under both the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and also the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
Paul Yoxon stated finally “although the population in Scotland is relatively healthy, elsewhere in its range it is extremely rare and they are classed as “vulnerable” in the World Conservation Union’s Red Data Book. In most cases otters are most at risk from being killed on the roads but here we have three which have been lost to the wild population through deliberate acts.
We know that the SSPCA and the Police are trying to bring prosecutions but so often their hands are simply tied. However, IOSF will be pushing to ensure that the people responsible are prosecuted and that the laws which are here to protect our wildlife are enforced.”
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