While primarily aimed at gaining insights into population information of otters, I regularly undertake camera trapping surveys in riparian zones associated with various land uses. This additionally provides useful information on mammalian diversity in these systems.
We’ve illustrated elevated population densities of African clawless otters in- and around fly-fishing estates in Mpumalanga – otters evidently exploiting the artificially high prey availability in the region. The otters here are seemingly playing a role in rainbow trout stock losses, which has an obvious economic impact. There are further multiple reports of conflicts between otters and people fishing for subsistence in various parts of Africa – these remain to be studied in detail to ascertain real influences on otter populations and/or the well-being of people.
