www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

1 of 6

e-Update 21 September 2012

As I write this there are about 150 Brent geese swimming idly past the window – a

truly beautiful sight and we have already had our first grounded Manx shearwaters. Every September the young birds set off from the nesting areas on the nearby island of Rum and if the weather is stormy they land on the roads thinking it is water. These beautiful birds are ideally suited to a life at sea but their legs are so far back that they cannot take off from flat ground and so are easy prey to cats and cars. These are two clear signs that autumn is on the way and the reddening berries of the rowan trees are an early indication of the lovely colours to come. But at the same time we know that it is the start of winter and the days will quickly become shorter and no doubt wetter.

IOSF Visit to Hungary At the end of August, Paul and Grace Yoxon of IOSF went to visit the Somogy Provincial Association for Nature Conservation which was founded in 1995 in the west of Hungary. The Association was the first organisation to own land for conservation purposes and this includes a

100 year old network of lakes and canals - prime habitat for otters and other species. The Association also owns and runs an Otter Park at

Petesmalom, where they not only have visitors to see and learn about otters but rehabilitate orphaned and injured animals. At the time of our visit they had a small male cub, Toto, who had been rescued with his sister but sadly she did not survive. Marta, who cares for the otters, is a dedicated “otter mum” and we were delighted to meet with her and discuss the ways we both look after our otters. Toto was just being weaned and up to this point hadn’t taken to solids very well, but on the evening of our visit he tucked into his first real meal. IOSF was there to help and advise and we will be supporting the otter care at Petesmalom. If you want to help you can adopt a Hungarian otter at http://www.ottershop.co.uk Toto

www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

2 of 6

But the Association is more than just the Otter Park and much of their work is about restoring and maintaining the wetlands of the area and providing a green corridor from Lake Balaton to the Drava River, which forms the Croatian border. The lake system provides a bird and otter feeding network with bird species including white and black stork, grey and purple

heron, egret, white tailed eagles, marsh harriers, bee eaters and rollers, hoopoes and spoonbills. At the time of our visit to the Otter Park we were able to have lunch watching two young storks still on the nest

being fed by their parents - they had taken their first flight the day before. The lakes are referred to as “fish ponds” but when you see the scale of them they are not what we think of as a “pond”! They are used for fish farming and some are leased to local fishermen. Each year some fish are harvested and others are moved to different ponds to overwinter. This is such a wonderful balance where people can make a living and at the same time the environment provides enough prey to support the otters and fish-eating birds. As the Association restores more ponds it will increase the habitat available and fish farming potential for people living side-by-side with the otters.

www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

3 of 6

The Association is also using traditional methods to bring back the natural grasslands. Traditional Hungarian grey cattle and Racka sheep graze the areas tended by a local shepherd and herdsman. In spring there is a fantastic show of orchids including green-winged, lax flowered and military orchids. The surrounding forests are a mix of oak, alder and beech and woodland mammals include red squirrels; red, fallow and roe deer; wild boar and wildcat. Paul and Grace were glued to

the spot when a wildcat appeared on the path in front of them and stared at them for about 30 seconds before running off – sadly no photo as they were too bowled over. IOSF needs your help as we want to send volunteers to help restore some of the wetlands. In return you will

have an amazing experience, including a visit to the Otter Park and some of the lake systems where you can see the wonderful wildlife – although we make no promises of wildcat! In addition you will meet our friendly and enthusiastic Hungarian hosts and be treated to the most delicious traditional Hungarian cooking, personally prepared for you by Terika. You will stay in the manor house which was formerly Kund Castle. We are still working out the details of the volunteer trip and will tell you more in due course.

Badger Cull – An Atrocity We know this is nothing to do with otters, but we simply cannot ignore this disgraceful action of the UK government in sanctioning the badger cull. In 1997 the Krebs Report wrote “The best prospect for control of TB in the British herd is to develop a cattle vaccine” So how is it that fifteen years later the UK Government is still killing badgers? According to the DEFRA Website “Developing effective cattle TB vaccines is a high priority for DEFRA. We have invested more than £23 million in cattle vaccine and associated diagnostics R&D since 1998, and over the next 4 years have budgeted to spend a further £9.3 million.” (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/bovine-tb/vaccination/cattle-vaccination) So if they have spent that amount of money how come they have still come up with nothing? They say that the best vaccine at the moment would be the BCG but that this is not allowed under EU law as it would interfere with the skin test which is used to test cattle for TB.

Hungarian Grey Cattle

Raka Sheep

www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

4 of 6

Surely if all cattle were vaccinated then there would be no need to test them for TB in the first place? And apparently in 2007 DEFRA funded the development of a test which could identify cattle which had been vaccinated from those which had been infected. TB is caused by bacteria which are present throughout the environment and all animals are susceptible. The form found in cattle is bovine TB but it has also been isolated in various other animals, including deer, pigs, sheep, horses, dogs, cats and rats. So why is the badger being singled out? It seems amazing that there has been a compulsory TB testing programme for cattle for over 50 years with all the costs involved and yet vaccination is still not being done. If we think about the farmer too, TB testing is an expensive and time-consuming exercise, with plenty of bureaucracy, and so vaccination would be far better for them as the BCG is a cheap vaccine to produce. In September 2010 DEFRA released a consultation document “Bovine Tuberculosis: the Government's approach to tackling the disease and consultation on a badger control policy'. In it they said that a vaccination for cattle will be available in 2012 (with the DIVA test). So here we are nearing the end of 2012 and there is no vaccine but instead a badger cull. DEFRA say they are trying to change the EU legislation but this will not be done until 2015! So in the meantime badgers will die. And as Caroline Gould from Vale Wildlife Rescue pointed out: “Closed season for the free-shooting of badgers - 1 Feb to 31 May. That means that it will be legal for them to shoot pregnant sows!!! How can this be allowed???? How indeed. If you are as outraged by this as we are, then please sign the epetition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

News from the Sanctuary There has been a bit of a mass exodus from the sanctuary over the last few weeks as several animals have been released, which is great. As we told you last month, Shannon and Holly are now free, but we have also just released the pine marten. He had grown from that teaspoon sized scrap into a great big handsome fellow and the time was ready for him to go. Catching him was interesting!!! Otters are bad enough but pine martens are 3D as they go up as well! But greed was his downfall as he walked straight into the trap for a bit of food! The release went well and he ran straight off into the forest. We have also released some hedgehogs and a fox cub so things are generally quieter – dangerous words to say, I know. Ness will be staying until the spring as she will be ready for

The European Badger (Meles meles)

Ness

www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

5 of 6

release in the winter which is not a good time to be heading off into the wild on your own.

In Search of The Wild Otter: Miriam Darlington in Conversation with Dr. Daniel Allen A date for your diary – Wednesday 31 October 2012. Miriam Darlington, author of “Otter Country” will be in conversation with Dr Daniel Allen, author of “Otter” to discuss the historical, mythological and cultural background of the otter. They will meet at 6.30pm at Waterstones on Gower Street in London. Tickets cost £5 or £3 for students and loyalty card holders and are available from Waterstones Gower Street, TEL: 020 7636 1577 or Email: events@gowerst.waterstones.com Pre-order your copy of “Otter Country” at the Otter Shop www.ottershop.co.uk Price: £20.00.

Beautiful Video of the Marine Otter in Chile Chinchimen (http://www.chinchimen.cl/) is a Chilean organisation working with the marine otter or seacat, known locally as the Chungungo. This was founded by Ricardo Correa after his experience with a young Chunguito, which he raised. Sadly the otter died but Riccardo was so moved that he started the organisation, saying “So, my cry is protect and defend the Chungungos still living in the Chilean coast and our valued coastal ecosystems!” He has now produced a beautiful video of an otter swimming and feeding on the coast there – enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN6YJ0j_gzY&list=PL16AB03B1EF2ADAD2&index=3&feature=plpp_video

Marine Otter/Sea Cat eating crab

(Photo: Matthew Steer/Maureen Hadert)

www.otter.org IOSF - e-Update no. 21 September 2012

6 of 6

Products of the Month at the Otter Shop (www.ottershop.co.uk)

2012 Christmas Card - £6.50 An Otter Christmas Pack of 10 cards and envelopes. These cards have been designed by, friend of IOSF, Lesley Wright and Otter. Pre-order yours now.

IOSF Gift Baskets - £15.95 Two lovely wicker baskets filled with treats nestled in paper shred straw and wrapped in cellophane. The Aromatic Basket contains a soap and candle made with high quality natural ingredients in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. And a soft toy otter. The Goodies Basket contains a luxury handmade chocolate bar; an individual plum pudding from the Ultimate Pudding Company; Walkers shortbread biscuits, and a soft toy otter.

Help the Otters When You Shop Online – It couldn’t be easier. With Give as you Live, thousands of brands including Play.com, John Lewis and Expedia have signed up to donate a percentage of every purchase you make online to us. This is all at no cost to you and at no cost to us.

Once you have registered and started buying, £5 will be donated to IOSF. But we have to get at least 25 supporters purchasing online through GAYL. So come on.... When so many of us buy online, You can help us do this. Every little helps. Simply visit http://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/internationalottersurvivalfund and discover Give as you Live today.

If you have already registered please remember to use Give As You Live when you do your online shopping and help the otters!

www.giveasyoulive.com/ www.spendandraise.com/ www.charitycards.otter.org/

International Otter Survival Fund

7 Black Park

Broadford

Isle of Skye

IV49 9DE

Scotland

Tel/Fax: ++(0)1471 822 487

Join our IOSF mailing list click on this link

http://eepurl.com/bLTvv

www.otter.org

THE INTERNATIONAL OTTER

SURVIVAL FUND

working to save the world's otters

Aromatic Basket

Goodies Basket