Africa

*Each region is determined as UN sub-regions and countries listed are only those that are believed to have wild otter populations.

North Africa

The three Mediterranean nations (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) are only home to one species of otter, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), whereas the fourth nation in the region, Sudan, is believed to have two species African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis) found in the very south of the country.

©Stewart Dawber

Species: Eurasian Otter
Has a patchy distribution around Bashar, Jijel and Alkala
Legal protection: Protected
Threats: High human population density and human conflicts, dams, fishing nets, hunting and stray dogs, climate change
Species: Eurasian Otter
Healthy populations remain in the foothills of the Middle and High Atlas but trend of populations disappearing from relatively flat Atlantic slope has increased. The decline is caused by differences in implementation of environmental policies, especially regarding water pollution.
Legal protection: Not known
Threats: Pollution, construction of dams, climate change and human pressure. There is a small trade in furs for decoration
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter
Found in the south of the country, close to the border of south Sudan. Presence largely unknown.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks
Threats: Otters caught in fishing nets.
Species: Eurasian Otter
Occurs to the land west of Tunis and north of the Oued Medjerda.
On 16 February 2019 a team from The Tunisian Association for Wildlife were travelling with a film director on the road to Nefza when they found a dead otter. This was the first digital proof of their existence in Tunisia. A documentary called “operation otter" has been produced to show the ATVS team’s otter.
About 90% of people in Tunisia do not know the species exists in their country.
Legal protection: None.
Threats: Not known but pollution is a problem in the Madjerda river. Climate change and reduced rainfall an issue.

East Africa

This region has all three of sub-Saharan Africa’s otter species. The Congo clawless (Aonyx congicus), African Clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and Spotted-necked otters (Hydrictis maculicollis).

©Rowan Jordaan

Species: Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both species may or may not be present - the last information was from 1986.
Legal protection: Not protected.
Threats: No information.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked otter
Potentially present but never confirmed.
Legal Protection: Unknown
Threats: Unknown
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both rare.
Legal protection: Protected in one National Park.
Threats: Dense human population.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Kakamega Forest National Reserve is located in Western Kenya, 418 km from Nairobi and is a good area to watch African Clawless Otters.
Saiwa Swamp National Park is the smallest park in Kenya, only 3km2, that was established to protect the semi-aquatic Sitatunga antelope notable for its wide spread hooves which allow it to walk on the swamp. Other species of mammals include the Spotted-necked Otter.
Legal protection: Protected - a licence is required to capture and kill otters.
Threats: Deforestation and habitat loss. Recently the introduced Louisiana red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii Girard is affecting the population.(Ogada, M 2004)
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African Clawless Otter is common over most of the country and found in Lake Malawi along with the Spotted-necked Otter.
Legal protection: Fully protected..
Threats: Agricultural expansion, tourism and fish traps.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African clawless otter dispersed across much of the country, but sightings are rare. Spotted-necked isolated one western side close to border with South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks and Reserves. Otters are in a good state.
Threats: Otters are killed for meat and skins.
Species: African Clawless, Spotted-necked and Congo Clawless Otter.
Spotted-necked Otter is the most common living on the open lakes, while the African Clawless Otter occurs in the marshy areas. Little information is available on the Congo Clawless Otter.
Legal protection: Protected in two National Parks.
Threats: Hunting and habitat loss
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked otter
Potentially present but never confirmed.
Legal Protection: Unknown
Threats: Unknown
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African Clawless Otter is living in rivers and streams but has declined over the years from Lake Victoria due to changes in fish populations. The Spotted-necked Otter can be found at Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi and Rukwa.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks.
Threats: Expansion of human population, intensive fishing and deforestation.
Species: African Clawless, Spotted-necked and Congo Clawless Otter.
The Spotted-necked Otter is common in Lakes Bunyeni, Mutanda and Kigezi but rare in Lake Victoria. The other two species are rare. Katonga Wildlife Reserve has all three species of otters are present. They can also be found on the Nile river but still very near the Mabira management area.
Legal protection: Protected in three National Parks.
Threats: Human population, poaching and pesticides.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Dr Jo Thompson of the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project reported that an ecologist, Frank Willems, working in north central Zambia had confirmed that both African Clawless and Spotted-necked otters are present.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks - a license is required to hunt otters.
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless Otter.
The African Clawless is common along rivers and man-made lakes.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks.
Threats: Not known.

Middle Africa

©Nik Borrow

Species: African Clawless, Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
The Spotted-necked Otter is fairly common but the other two species are rare.
Legal protection: No information.
Threats: Hunting
Species: African Clawless, Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
All species present but little is known on distribution. The Congo Clawless seems to prefer the lowland forest areas in the southeast of the country (Alary, F et al 2002).
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Hunting for bushmeat, witchcraft material and the skin is used for drums.
Species: African Clawless, Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
All three species present. The Congo Clawless Otter is present in the lowland rainforests to the southwest of the country.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Killed for bushmeat
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both species occur only in the area around Lake Chad.
Legal protection: Slightly protected.
Threats: Drying up of Lake Chad and hunting.
Species: Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Spotted-necked Otter is common in Lake Tele but no evidence for the rest of the country The Congo Clawless is rare but found in the Likouala, Cuvette and Virunga volcanoes regions.
In February 2010 a Congo Clawless otter was rescued after its mother was killed by a hunter. The cub, Mazu, was reared by two missionaries, Glen and Rita Chapman, and she returned to the wild in 2012. That same year another Congo Clawless cub was found in the Republic of Congo, and she was transferred to Kikongo to be cared for by the Chapmans. Mazu became an ambassador for otters and there is now the Kikongo otter sanctuary, which cares for orphaned/injured otters and carries out education work and practical conservation in the local community.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Not known.
Species: Spotted-necked and Congo Clawless Otter.
Very little is known about otters in the country.
Legal Protection: Not known
Threats: Poaching and habitat loss
Species: African Clawless, Spotted-necked Otter, and Congo Clawless Otter
No recent information.
Legal protection: Not known.
Threats: Not known.
Species: Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
The Congo Clawless is present in much of the virgin rainforest areas, while the Spotted-necked Otter is rare.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Drowning in fish traps, hunting for bushmeat.

Southern Africa

Southern Africa is home to two of the three of sub-Saharan Africa’s otter species: The African Clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and Spotted-necked otters (Hydrictis maculicollis).

Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both species occur in the Okavango swamps and Chobe river.
Legal protection: Fully protected
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter
Populations and distribution largely unknown.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks and game reserves.
Threats: Habitat loss (deforestation, overgrazing), pollution from mining, agricultural pesticides and urban waste, competition with fishermen. Otters are also used for loin skins and by traditional healers.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African Clawless otters are reported widely in Lesotho, especially in the Lesotho Highlands but no density estimates are known. Instead, densities of latrine sites are commonly reported during environmental impact assessments. The Spotted-necked Otter may be extinct.
Legal protection: Protected in one National Park.
Threats: Expanding human population, habitat loss (deforestation, overgrazing, silting of streams), pollution from mining, agricultural pesticides and urban waste, competition with fishermen. There are reports that in the Lesotho Highlands, African Clawless Otters are commonly used for traditional medicine, clothes, hats, and as food.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
The African Clawless Otter is rare and occurs only in the Kunene and Okavango rivers on the northern border. The Spotted-necked Otter is found on the Okavango river.
Legal protection: Protected
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African Clawless Otters occur on the east and south coasts of South Africa and sporadically up the west coast to Langebaan, the Berg River Estuary, Cederberg, and all major river systems, including the Orange River. They are not common in the arid interior but have been found in desert conditions on the upper Doring River in the Western Cape. Also in the Western Cape they are known to inhabit wetlands and rivers surrounding urban areas.
The Spotted-necked Otter is rare and only occurs in the inland waters in the east.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks and game reserves.
Threats: Expanding human population, habitat loss (deforestation, overgrazing), pollution from mining, agricultural pesticides and urban waste, competition with fishermen.

West Africa

African Clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) and Spotted-necked otters (Hydrictis maculicollis) live in this area and are the main species within the region. There was one report of a Congo clawless otter in Nigeria, near Cameroon border.

Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Patchy distribution and both species are rare. Spotted necked otters are known to occur in the Oueme Valley.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks
Threats: High human population density and hunting.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both species are rare and occur in the moister south and south east of the country.
Legal protection: Protected in National Parks.
Threats: Overhunting and over fishing
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Only recent observations have been in southern/coastal areas of African clawless otters. Much is unknown.
Legal protection: Not known.
Threats: Loss of habitat.
Species: African Clawless Otter
Known to live along the river Gambie.
Legal protection: Not known.
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Very little known about otters in Ghana.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Increasing human population is affecting the habitat.
Species: African Clawless Otter
Largely unknown.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Bushmeat
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Until 2003 only the African Clawless Otter was thought to occur which is fairly common. However, a live Spotted-necked Otter was rescued on 18 April 2003.
Legal protection: Unprotected.
Threats: Hunting of otters and agricultural development.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
African Clawless and Spotted-necked are common in the Sapo National Park but elsewhere they are rare.
Legal protection: Protected in one National Park.
Threats: Loss of forest and silting of rivers, illegal killing.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Largely unknown
Legal protection: Not known.
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
The African Clawless is only found in the south of the country. The Spotted-necked Otter has been occasionally reported.
Legal protection: Protected.
Threats: Habitat destruction.
Species: African Clawless, Spotted-necked and Congo Clawless Otter.
African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter are rare. The Congo Clawless Otter has been reported from Cross River state in the south east.
Legal protection: Protected
Threats: Pollution, habitat loss
Species: African Clawless Otter.
African Clawless Otter is widespread.
Legal protection: Protected
Threats: Not known.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Both species are rare.
Legal protection: Protected in Nature Reserves.
Threats: Increased human activity.
Species: African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter.
Largely unknown.
Legal protection: Protected.
Threats: Human population and pesticides.

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