Our Aims

• Train local rangers and government staff to ensure the legal protection of otters is enforced.
• Involve local fishermen in research on, and conservation of otters, to give people an otter-friendly alternative to hunting them
• Establish a monitoring system to assess the successfulness of the conservation activities.
• Provide environmental education to the local communities (including schools) to raise their awareness of otters and their conservation issues - to demonstrate that this is THEIR heritage
• Encourage the establishment of "assurance colonies" of the hairy-nosed and smooth-coated otters in captivity

Currently the team consists of four people in the UK and one in Cambodia.

The work in Cambodia will be organised by Annette Ollsen of Conservation International, who has worked for many years in the Tonle Sap Area. Conservation International are at the moment working with the government to demarcate a large wildlife sanctuary in the Tonle Sap flooded forest, with otters as the flagship species. The sanctuary has a few small fishing villages located within and near it

In the UK, Paul and Grace Yoxon of the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), Carol Bennetto and Lesley Wright are organising the appeal.

We aim to raise around £30,000 p.a. to fund the work in Cambodia, as described in Annette's Concept Note (PDF 205 KB)

Once work on the ground begins, details of expenditure will be available on this website.