First giant otter distribution survey in the southeast of Roraima, Brazil, with notes on the OSG Guidelines for a Standardization of Survey Methods

Abstract

A distribution survey of giant otter was conducted for the first time in the southeast corner of Roraima, bordering  the state of Amazonas, in Brazil (1° 4' S, 61°36' O). The region has recently been recognized as a protected area and is currently elaborating its own management plan. Our survey was carried out according to the guidelines for a standardisation of survey methods as recommended by the IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group. The short expedition covered two squares of 100x100km on the UTM grid and interested tree different river basins, investigating black-water as well as white-water watercourses. With the aim of contributing to the optimisation of the standard survey methodology, we carried out some field tests during the survey and present the results in this paper. The expedition revealed the presence of giant otter in all the basins investigated and recorded a series of human activities that may represent a threat to the species survival in the future. Although the results presented are preliminary, we discuss the implication of the presence of the giant otter in the region from a conservation perspective and provide suggestions for the protected area management plan.