Update from our otter surveys in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park!

Last year, we initiated a collaboration with Conservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, to survey otters in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park as part of a broader research project to gather genetic information from otter species across mainland Southeast Asia, based on the collection of fecal samples (called ‘spraints’ for otters) from which DNA is extracted.

Indeed, the distribution and population status of Asian-ranged otter species remain very little known and studied. In Laos, three species have been confirmed to occur (Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata and Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra) but information is sparse, historical and/or nonexistent.

In Nakai – Nam Theun National Park, at least two otter species have been previously reported from the area: Asian Small-clawed Otter and a larger unidentified otter species.

Therefore, this research has several objectives:

1. To identify species and population-level genetic diversity of otter species in Nakai– Nam Theun National Park, Lao PDR
2. To investigate the evolutionary relationships of otter species within Mustelidae family
3. To determine sex-ratio based on molecular sexing of otter species
4. To investigate level and patterns of recent gene flow level among nearby populations based on microsatellite markers to monitor impacts of human disturbance on population dynamics and long-term survival
5. To use these data to develop follow up projects for the conservation and ecological study of otter species in Southeast Asia

Locations of otter fecal samples collected and survey routes in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park in 2019-2020

Over the past six months, we surveyed six different sites spread across Nakai – Nam Theun National Park and collected a total of 61 fecal samples. The samples are being analyzed at the laboratory of our partner, the Conservation Ecology Program in Thailand.

Here is a glimpse at what our field work looked like over the past few months!

We will work on a first publication over the next few months to present some aspects of the results (e.g. molecular-based species identification of sympatric otter species in Nakai – Nam Theun NP and insights into evolutionary history of some otter species).