Eurasian Otters in Scotland, Spotted-necked Otters in Africa, and River Otters in North America: Cultural and Institutional Differences and Commonalities in these Species Serving as Ambassadors for Aquatic Conservation

Worldwide thirteen species of otters respectively define a variety of ecological niches in aquatic habitats.  The role of otters as a top predator in aquatic ecosystems, widespread distribution, and the perception of them... [ view full abstract ]

Worldwide thirteen species of otters respectively define a variety of ecological niches in aquatic habitats.  The role of otters as a top predator in aquatic ecosystems, widespread distribution, and the perception of them being attractive and possessing a playful, appealing nature are characteristics that seemingly equate well to them being an ideal flagship species to promote aquatic conservation.  However, human perceptions of the virtues of a species may vary considerably within and among cultures, or among species possessing seemingly similar characteristics.  Comparisons of perceptions about otters rarely have been conducted, especially in the context of assessing their potential as flagships.  We developed a five-element conceptual model for assessing and developing the potential for otters to serve as flagships.   We assess the model based on comparison of an integration of sociological and ecological studies of three species of otters from disparate areas in the world: the Eurasian otter in Scotland; the spotted-necked otter in Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania, and North American river otter in Pennsylvania, USA. We compare commonalities and disparities in the virtues and liabilities of the conceptual model for application in developing the respective otters as aquatic flagships.