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The Otter - A Legend Returns [eVideo]

2021

Online Video

Total copies: 1

Available: 0

Summary

In Western Europe the otter drastically declined in numbers and even completely disappeared from the Netherlands. This was mainly due to hunting, loss of habitat, pollution, and traffic collisions. But the Dutch set the example by investing in their water quality and restoring the habitat of the otter to enable its reintroduction. People now have a chance to spot the otter as it spreads through the Netherlands and even ventures into the heart of a city. Unique footage provides an insight into the life of the illusive Eurasian otter and the measures that are needed to protect this ambassador of the freshwater environment. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and has left little space for its natural ecosystems. Yet, in the heart of a northern city, a large male otter makes his unlikely appearance. He begins his nightly routine hunting for fish in the canal's murky water. How did this rare and elusive creature end up here, after it became extinct in 1988 due to hunting, pollution, traffic, and habitat loss? For decades people worked to reduce these risks, and finally, the otter was successfully reintroduced. Although the Dutch otters gradually grew in numbers, they still faced great dangers in their migration to new territories. Each year at least one-third of the otter population dies in traffic, as a dense road network still intersects its habitat. Fortunately, many parties cooperate to create safe passages and defragment the freshwater ecosystem. To prevent future flooding, new wetlands are located adjacent to cities, giving the legendary otter a home right in front of our doorstep. Few people manage to catch a glimpse of this elegant but mysterious animal. The otter covers long stretches underwater without a trace and its nocturnal lifestyle in inaccessible wetlands makes it difficult to spot. Never before has the natural behaviour of otters in the Netherlands been documented so extensively and it is now presented in this blue-chip documentary.