Useful Publications
2023
IUCN SSC Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence – read them here or download the Guidelines.
IUCN SSC Position Statement on the Role of Botanic Gardens, Aquariums and Zoos in Species Conservation and the importance of of their role: read it here
The Global Species Action Plan provides a guide for countries to integrate species actions into their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Countries are required to submit new or updated NBSAPs: committing urgent and stronger action to stop biodiversity loss. Read more here and download the Global Species Action Plan.
2022
GIANT OTTER MANIFESTO (November 2022) – download it here
2021
NEPAL OTTER ACTION PLAN – RESEARCH FOCUS: A new publication from the Himalayan Otter Network, edited by Sanjan Thapa, lays out the basic research and surveys that are needed to provide a scientific foundation for a comprehensive, country-wide plan to conserve otters and their habitat in Nepal. Read it here.
2020
IUCN 2020 WORLD CONSERVATION CONGRESS OTTER MOTION (WCC-2020-Res-098)
The OSG submitted a motion to the IUCN World Conservation Congress, pinpointing otter conservation priorities. The motion was adopted by electronic vote and can be read here.
In 2020, the OSG performed an in-depth survey among our members and here are the results: 2020 OSG Member Survey
2019
CITES PROPOSAL CoP 17
In 2019, the OSG proposed the transfer of the two Asian otter species (Lutrogale perspicillata and Aonyx cinereus) from Appendix II to Appendix I of the Appendices to CITES based on the criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) – here is the document. The proposal was approved by the parties – read more here.
The OSG published a report regarding the IUCN/SSC OSG group. You can read it here.
2018
OTTERS IN THE ALPS MANIFESTO
In 2018, the OSG met up in the Italian Alps, together with members and experts of five European countries, to discuss and develop a strategy to expand the recolonisation of otters in the Alpine region. The meeting concluded successfully with the Otters in the Alps Manifesto that you can download here.
TRAFFIC REPORTS
Between 2016 and 2018, together with TRAFFIC, we developed various documents focusing on the legal and illegal wildlife otter trade in various areas of Asia. You can read the reports here.
The 2018 OSG Global Otter Conservation Strategy can be downloaded for free, here.
2017
2017 IUCN-SSC OSG Annual Report to SSC 2017
The OSG We Love Otters! book is online and can be downloaded for free, here.
2016
TROPICAL ASIAN OTTER MANIFESTO
During the 2016 XIII Otter Congress, held in Singapore, we drafted a manifesto to highlight the wetland loss in Asia, using the otter as a symbol of healthy wetland ecosystems. Download it here.