INVESTIGADORES
YORIO pablo Martin
artículos
Título:
A survey of the Southern river otter Lutra provocax in Lanín, Puelo and Los Alerces National Parks, Argentina, and eval¬uation of its conservation status
Autor/es:
CHEHÉBAR, C.; GALLUR, A.; GIANNICO, G.; GOTTELLI, M.D.; YORIO, P.
Revista:
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Referencias:
Año: 1986 vol. 38 p. 293 - 304
ISSN:
0006-3207
Resumen:
A survey
of the huillin or southern river otter Lutra provocax distribution was made in
Lanin, Puelo and Los
Alerces National
Parks. Signs of otters were found at only 4 of
175 sites visited and all of these were in the south of Lanin. According to
local people the species occurred in all three National Parks until 25 40 years
ago. The main reason for the loss of huillines seems to be intensive hunting in
the past. The geography and structure of the hydrological basins may help
explain the lack of recolonisation by huillines from remnant populations. Signs
of mink Mustela vison were found in both Puelo and Los Alerces and, while mink
could not have been responsible .for the decline of the otter, they may hinder
re-establishment of otter populations. Human disturbance and tourism are not
thought to have a significant impact on huillin distribution although remote
refuges should be maintained, and our results show the importance of good
coastal vegetation cover for permanent populations of the species. It is clear
that the only important and permanent population of huillines in Argentina, between 39°S and 43°S, occurs at Nahuel Huapi
National Park, which was
surveyed in 1982-83. This population is now of critical importance for the
conservation of the species, which should retain its 'endangered'status in Argentina.
Measures to implement huillin conservation are proposed.