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I'm just going to add something from a different agricultural perspective.

Otters are good news for many farmers. If you are a maize farmer, you are likely to have to shoot geese to keep their populations down. If you run a pivot, you probably have a dam nearby, if you encouraged otters they might be able to reduce the breeding of Gypos and spurwing.

The only people who have any ligitimate greivance against otters are trout fisherman - where they are introducing hundreds of fish into a dam every year, because trout can't breed in still waters.

The thought of shooting an otter because it is eating introduced duck species is ridiculous. Are the duck farmed? Do people earn a living off the duck? I battle to see the problem.

Just stating an opinion.

Just to add ...being an avid otter watcher for many years...and watching a family grow up year after year...a few facts concerning Otters

The density as calculated scientifically is 1 otter for 2km of suitable habitat... Suitable habitat is along any river --usually reasonably shallow, with sufficient bush along side..or almost all coast lines from 100km North of Cape Town and the whole south coast...However a quick calculation gives us only 25 - 30 otters for the whole Titsikamma National park...This is not a lot... So we cannot assume a massive population in the whole of SA

Secondly Neither Fish nor Birds are major percentages on their diets...In fresh water it will be crabs mostly, and slow moving fish eg cat fish and in the sea crayfish and octopus...So they dont totally deplete the fish reserves...Sure if they are in abundance in a trout farm that could be a different story...but they cant climb sheer sides...so surely ways are possible to stop them getting into the dam...

Thirdly they are by my observation the most attentive, playful and curious when not in fear...animals around so do we really have to harm them....

Thanks for that OS that is so interesting.

I remember as a child being enchanched by a story of an otter pup being rescued and raised, in Scotland, I think. I was completely won over by the charm of this creature. They do strike me as being highly intelligent.

Never seen an otter in my 22 years of existence.

Gavin Maxwell, Ring of Bright Water?

Interesting Otter information Otterspotter! Thanks!

Saraf, it was "Ring of bright water"

I loved the book. It sounds as though you are also familiar with Gavin Mawell.

I think I was enchanted as a child from 'Ring of Bright Water' The movie edition...It obviously grew in me a love for otters even before I ever saw one...When I discovered that they occurred in South Africa I started looking for photographs...but in those days they hardly existed..No one saw them, so no one photographed them

Even when some one produced a book (recent approx 8 yrs ago) on the garden route and wanted to place an otter picture on the front they place a picture of an American sea otter...can you believe it? Front Cover???
Did not even get the species right.....

Of course that has changed with better lenses, and better photographers...

Probably the most amazing video of a Cape Clawless otter is on youtube ... I expect if one view the whole Cape Peninsula National Park as a park and it was filmed on the peninsula then I could share it with your legally...


Quite something
. Of course one cant orchestrate this...one guy got the experience ...we can just go purple with envy

@brogran
You can find otters if you want to.... the secret is first in the spoor which is easily recognisable, so once you know they in the area, the next secret is in the whistle...Recognise it and you can find them
Probably the easiest national park is at Storms River Mouth.... Wake up before sunrise and walk slowly around the restaurant area. You are listening for a whistle not like a dassie. High pitched..not two toned..Probably would miss it if you are not listening for it...Likely to get a good sighting

Fantastic video Otterspotter! Thanks for sharing!

Gavin Maxwell was a very interesting character and trained/inspired some very respected British conservationists.

However I have to admit I haven't read Ring of Bright Water, or seen the film.

Thank you Otterspotter for that amazing footage



I still have goosebumps.

Saraf, I must have read the book a few decades ago and I still remember many of his anecdotes, such was the impression the book made on me. Of course I did not remember his name but we can't blame that on Gavin Maxwell.

has anyone seen one in Kruger National Park??

We were not that lucky Massimo! We've been there in September 2012, but that was wishful thinking for us!

They are sometimes seen in the vicinity of the LS low water bridge, Massimo.

I saw this Cape Clawless Otter from the Lower Sabie bridge early in the morning during this past September.
Only the second time I've seen these guys in the wild.