MONITORING PERIPHERAL POPULATIONS OF THE

Abstract: After a period of strong decline, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) has re-expanded its area of distribution in Italy from 1984 to 2004, mainly toward the southern periphery of its range. The Sila National Park is located in a strategic position along a drainage divide separating southern peripheral otter populations from unoccupied but potentially recolonizable habitats. A research project aimed to evaluate the aquatic habitats of the Sila National Park for otter recolonization is now in progress. At present, we have surveyed 14 sampling sites to detect otter presence in the study area. Two positive sites were found on the Arvo river. These records represent the first evidence of otter presence in the Sila area after extinction apparently occurred in the late 1970s. One of the two positive sites was negative in the 2003. These data seem to indicate that otter recolonization in the southern periphery of Italian distribution range is still in progress. Management actions in the Sila National Park may favour recolonization processes