Conserving Brazil’s Endangered Giant Otters

South America’s giant river otters certainly live up to their name, with some adults growing up to 6 feet long and weighing as much as 75 pounds. But the world’s largest otters are also endangered, with just a few thousand individuals estimated to remain in three South American river systems: the Amazon, La Plata and Orinoco. The largest populations of these mammals are found in the vast freshwater wetlands of the Brazilian Pantanal, an ideal habitat for these superb swimmers and skilled hunters. Join Expedition Leader Helder Brandao de Oliveira and Caroline Leuchtenberger, the Giant Otter Species Coordinator of the IUCN-SSC Otter Specialist Group, to learn about these captivating carnivores. Caroline has been working to conserve giant otters since 2006 and has been a member of the committee of the Brazilian National Conservation Plan since 2014. Find out how Caroline’s studies have improved scientific knowledge of the species and promoted positive conservation outcomes, including her coordination of the Giant Otter Project and other reintroduction projects in Argentina.


Originally presented June 29, 2021

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