Recovery of the Endangered giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis on the Yavarí-Mirín and Yavarí Rivers: a success story for CITES

Abstract

The giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis was hunted almost to extinction in the Peruvian Amazon during a period of professional trade in wild animal skins during 1920-1973. In 1973 the Department of Agriculture of Peru (INRENA) prohibited commercial hunting in the Peruvian Amazon, and the giant otter was included in Appendix I of CITES. From 1973 to 2004 giant otter populations expe- rienced a slow recovery in numerous rivers of the Peruvian Amazon. Here, we report the population growth of the giant otter on the Yavari ´-Mirin and YavariRivers in north- east Peru. The first evaluations of giant otter populations in these rivers, in which no individuals were sighted, were in 1992-1993. During surveys in 1996 and 1997 two individ- uals were sighted. In 2001, 19 individuals were sighted and in 2003 and 2004, 41 individuals were observed. This in- crease demonstrates a slow recovery and shows that the population has not yet reached its carrying capacity. The prohibition of international trade in otter skins by CITES, supported by INRENA, helped the population recover and was important in the conservation of this species.