THE OTTER IN AUSTRIA: A REVIEW ON THE CURRENT STATE OF

Abstract: As the status of the otter and the results of research work done in Austria have not been summarised within the last years, this article is an attempt to fill this gap. Status, habitat, captive animals, ecology and pollutant burden are reviewed. No national survey has been carried out, but the main otter distribution is along the northern and southeastern border. The northern population seems safe but the southern one is likely to be fragmented by developments such as planned hydropowerstations. There are some conflicts with fish farmers but compensation is paid. There is a breeding colony of otters in Alpenzoo Innsbruck and another group at the WWF station Grünau, which has not yet bred. Recent pollutant assay results are discussed, and heavy metal levels presented. As the status of the otter and the results of research work done in Austria have not been summarized within the last years, this article is an attempt to fill this gap. The main activities on otters are coordinated by the Institute for Wildlife Biology and Gam