Rare otter discovered in Red Book in Quang Tri

While fishing with a trap, a resident in Quang Tri discovered a small-clawed otter. This is a rare animal listed in the Vietnam Red Book.

On July 29, Mr. Tran Manh Thuong, Deputy Head of the Economic - Infrastructure Department of Dong Ha Ward (Quang Tri) said that the unit had just coordinated with local forest rangers to release a rare otter into the wild. Photo: Tien Phong.

Previously, on the evening of July 28, Mr. Mai Chiem Linh (resident of Ward 3, Dong Ha Ward) was fishing on Hieu River when he suddenly discovered an otter weighing 3 kg. Photo: Tien Phong.

Mr. Linh called the Economic - Infrastructure Department of Dong Ha Ward to report the discovery of the otter. After receiving the information, the Department and local forest rangers came to make a record of the incident and received the otter to release it back into the wild. Photo: Tien Phong.

The small-clawed otter has the scientific name Aonyx cinereus. This is the smallest otter species in the world. When fully grown, each individual weighs less than 5 kg. Photo: Joachim S. Müller.

Small-clawed otters are distributed in saltwater lagoons and freshwater wetlands in many countries around the world including India, China, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam... Photo: Joachim S. Müller.

Small-clawed otters have shorter, more compact bodies than other otters. Their webbed feet do not extend all the way to their toes and are covered with fur, and their ears have flaps that cover their openings. Their fur is light brown or grayish-brown. A notable feature of small-clawed otters is their small feet, which do not extend beyond their toes. Photo: Joachim S. Müller.

Listed in the Vietnam Red Book, the small-clawed otter is an extremely rare animal that needs to be prioritized for protection. Photo: Dave Gunn.

The otter population in Vietnam has been declining dramatically in recent years due to over-hunting for pets or the commercial use of parts such as fur and skin, and loss of natural habitat. Photo: animaldiversity.org.

Readers are invited to watch the video: Many new species discovered in the Mekong River Region. Source: THĐT1.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/phat-hien-rai-ca-quy-hiem-trong-sach-do-tai-quang-tri-post2149041979.html