Otter may be next in line for extinction
Otter may be next in line for extinction
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Experts warn that otters, the fish
eating mammals widely resented by fish breeders, may join the
list of extinct animals soon unless steps are taken to protect
them.
Speakers at a seminar to discuss the fate of otters, the first
of its kind in Indonesia, agree, despite the absence of proper
research, that the population of otters in West Java has declined
rapidly.
"We don't know for sure how many otters there are living in
the wild. But any layman knows that the otter population has
declined, especially in densely populated areas like Java
Island," Sutisna Wartapura, the director general for the
protection of forestry and natural resources, said while opening
the symposium.
"If we take a stroll in the Cipanas area in West Java and ask
the local people if there are any otters in the area, the people
are likely to say that sure there are, but they are no longer
visible because their traditional habitat has been converted into
residential areas," Sutisna said.
Sutisna agreed with the proposal to save the otter population
from becoming extinct. "It would be unwise if we only paid
attention to their fate when they became an exceedingly rare
species."
The symposium is organized by the Asian Wetland Bureau which
is launching a survey on the otter population in West Java.
Roland Melisch of the Bureau explained that there were
misconceptions among many people that all otters are fish
predators.
The only type of otters which eat fish are those that live
along the coasts, in mangroves and undisturbed habitats.
"The main foods of the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx
cinerea) is small crabs and snails. While the smooth-coated otter
(Lutrogale perspicillata) eats fish and rats," Melisch said.
In Indonesia, smooth-coated otters are found in places far
from human habitats such as Ujung Kulon and Pamanukan, and
therefore cannot be considered as pests to people, he said.
The small-clawed otter usually gets along well with humans, he
added.
Other speakers suggested that otters be put in the category of
endangered species to prevent them from becoming extinct. (01)