Cardiff University Otter Project
LightNews LightNews
banner
otterproject.bsky.social
Cardiff University Otter Project
@otterproject.bsky.social
55 followers 13 following 33 posts
National monitoring and research project. If you find a dead otter please call England: 03708 506 506, Wales: 0300 065 3000, Scotland: 01471 822 487
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
otterproject.bsky.social
Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · Nov 28
We post mortem otters found dead in Wales, England, and Scotland. If you have found a dead otter please contact the relevant organisation below:
• Wales: Natural Resources Wales 0300 0653000
• England: Environment Agency 03708 506506
• Scotland: International Otter Survival Fund 01471 822487
Infographic on "Why is it important to report dead otters?": By reporting, you are contributing to vital scientific research on otters to investigate contaminants, disease, and population population across the UK. Have you found a dead otter? Please report it as soon as possible so that, with your help, we can continue our research. Please note the time, date, and National Grid Reference or what3words. Do not touch the otter. Infographic on "What happens are you report the otter?": The agency in your area will arrange to collect the otter. The otter will then be sent to Cardiff University Otter Project for post-mortem examination. Spatial, temportal, and biotic data is recorded in our database. This is why the information you provide is so important. We are able to ask questions about patterns across the UK, change over time, and differences between groups, such as sex, age, and reproductive status. We still need otters, no matter the cause of death! Although we aim to establish the cause of death (which is vehicle collisions in >80% of cases), this is not our main purpose of a post mortem. During the examination we collect data and samples which can provide information about ecological patterns and processes in wild populations. It is important that the otter is reported as soon as it is found. The freshness of the carcass allows the Otter Project to gain fundamental information and archive more samples for future research. Infographic explaining: "What otter samples do the otter project archive and why?" Since the beginning of the project in 1994, we have archived samples to retrospectively analyse when new questions arise, new methods are developed, and when funding becomes available. These are just a few examples of the tissue samples we retain and analyse for our research: Muscle samples are used for genetic analysis including research into landscape genetics and population genetics. Recent research from the project has revealed that although otter populations have grown, genetic recovery is lagging behind, and diversity remains low. Bones are used for morphometric analysis and heavy metal analysis. A recent collaborative study was published on the plasticity of the skulls which found morphometric variation between 3 distinct genetic clusters, coinciding to different diets and climates. Liver is analysed for chemical contaminants such as heavy metals, PBDEs, PFASs, PCBs, and OCs. PFASs are a large family of persistent synthetic "forever chemicals" and sample analysis revealed that otters are effective sentinels of PFAS pollution in the environment. Furthermore, we have found that chemical contaminants such as PCBs still exceeded toxic thresholds despite legislative controls being introduced decades earlier. Samples of gut content are taken near the rectum and retained for research associated with scent analysis, diet, and parasite screening. We have evaluated the effectiveness of metabarcoding methods as a tool for analysis of prey remains from faeces. Thank you for your continued support (featuring a picture of a eurasian otter on a river bank). For any further questions or if you'd like to read the research we have published, please visit our website: www.cardiff.ac.uk/otter-project
otterproject.bsky.social
It's time for a return to our #anatomy series, starting with the scent glands!

Photo credit: Elizabeth Chadwick
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
We have had the pleasure of welcoming many fantastic placement students to The Cardiff University Otter Project. They are always eager to offer their help! To all our former students: thank you so much for your hard work! We would love to catch up and hear what you're up to now.
November 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
otterproject.bsky.social
Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy?

Our data and samples are used in a wide range of research and help guide conservation.

Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant!
November 4, 2025 at 1:31 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
We are honoured to have our most recent Otter Survey Wales work featured in the Esri UK ThinkGIS magazine! (resource.esriuk.com/publications...)
October 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
After being unable to perform post-mortems since February we are finally back in the lab! The placement students have enjoyed being able to begin their lab training and we have even found some abnormalities already. Otter #4715 had a very enlarged gall bladder and gallstones.
October 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Welcome to our final placement student Sorrel, completing our team for this year!
October 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
We would like to welcome our second placement student for this year. Sandy Huang
October 1, 2025 at 4:32 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Today in celebration of #WorldRiversDay we wanted to recognise our river here in Cardiff - The River Taff, which has a supports a wide range of species including our beloved otters. World Rivers Day aims to spread awareness for rivers around the world, ensuring they continue to improve and thrive.
September 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
otterproject.bsky.social
Following on from our previous post about the status of mammals in Wales, we would like to highlight ‘WMBAF’. The Wales Mammal Biodiversity Action Forum is a network of individuals and organisations who work on mammals in Wales; our project lead Dr Chadwick is one of the members.
📸Ian Humphries
September 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
A third of our native mammals in Wales are now threatened with extinction. @mammalsociety.bsky.social have made this infographic highlighting the action needed to support Welsh wildlife as a whole. Our work on otters is just part of wider conservation efforts for mammals in Britain.
September 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Following some post mortems on otters killed on railways, we conducted further research. We discovered a serious and often unseen danger to otters in the UK: electrified 'third rail' railway lines.
September 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Holly, an Otter Project PhD student, attended the SETAC Young Environmental Scientists Meeting in York. It gathered young environmentalists to discuss toxicology and chemistry. She presented her research on lead contamination in Eurasian otters and Common buzzards as an indicator for pollution.
September 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Introducing our new placement student Sophie Sharp who has just joined us for this year.
September 2, 2025 at 1:13 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
A huge well done to everyone who graduated last week, especially our amazing Otter Project alumni!

🦦Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Sarah Raymond (@sarahraymond.bsky.social) - PhDs
🦦Manus Leidi - MBiol
🦦Liberty, Oscar, Phoebe, and Scarlet - BSc's

We're so proud of you all!

#Graduation2025
July 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Our own Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Elizabeth Chadwick are both contributors to this POSTnote, which will help inform the current parliamentary inquiry into the risks of PFAS in our environment: post.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Regulation and remediation of ‘forever’ chemicals
This POSTnote summarises debates on regulatory approaches for addressing the environmental impacts arising from per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
post.parliament.uk
June 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Happy World Otter Day from all of us at the Otter Project! 🦦🌍 #WorldOtterDay #OtterProject #OtterConservation #TeamOtter #CardiffUniversity #lutralutra

📷 Otter photo: Freddie Montague-Dennis
May 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Gu is joining the otter team for her PhD! 🦦
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Inspection and Quarantine from Guangdong Medical University (2018) and a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Aberdeen (2023). Find Gu on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/qub-gu-ot....
May 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Cardiff University Otter Project
sduplessis.bsky.social
📣 I’m excited to be able to share our new publication! 📣 Our research on historical genomic variation 🧬 in Eurasian otters 🦦 (Lutra lutra) in Britain demonstrates the viability of hunting trophy specimens as sources of historical DNA.
doi.org/10.1007/s126...
Historical genomic variation of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in Britain, from hunting trophies - Conservation Genetics Resources
Genomic data from historical specimens can provide insights into populations and processes no longer evident from modern samples. Identifying viable sources of historical DNA is key to this. Here we a...
doi.org
May 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
🦦🐣 Happy Easter from the Otter Project!
April 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
otterproject.bsky.social
The Otter Project is celebrating World Aquatic Animal Day today! 🌊🐾 This annual event raises awareness about aquatic animals and the vital roles they play in ecosystems worldwide🌍💧

Photo: Rob Williams

#WorldAquaticAnimalDay #OtterProject #SaveOurSeas
April 3, 2025 at 3:35 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Introducing Sandra, a Portuguese PhD student from the @cfe_engel research group at the University of Coimbra. Part of her research will be developed in collaboration with the Otter Project, at Cardiff!

@cfe_engel
@e3g_uc

#WildlifeConservation #Lutralutra #GeneticsResearch #GenomicsResearch #otters
Hi! I’m Sandra and I am a PhD student. My research focuses on developing and testing new genomic markers for non-invasive monitoring of otters, as well as evaluating the genetic diversity of otter populations in Portugal. I'm working in collaboration with the Environmental Genomics lab (University of Coimbra) and the Molecular Ecology and Otter Project groups (Cardiff University). I'm thrilled to work with the amazing Otter Project team and contribute to the conservation of this charismatic mustelid!
March 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦦 🍃☀️

In celebration, our placement students and volunteers did a survey looking for otter spraint and footprints.
Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦦 🍃☀️ In celebration, our placement students and volunteers did a survey looking for otter spraint and footprints. Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦦 🍃☀️ In celebration, our placement students and volunteers did a survey looking for otter spraint and footprints.
March 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Don't forget to sign up to our e-newsletter! The newest edition is coming out soon 🦦 !

Copy the link below to sign up: eepurl.com/cWWYlX

Photo: Jeff Chard

#newsletter #cardiffuni #eurasianotter #conservation #ukwildlife #ecology #cardiffuniversityotterproject #conservation #biosciences #otters
February 28, 2025 at 1:34 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
We are excited to be attending the 16th International Otter Congress in Peru this week! #16thIOC #weloveotters #IUCN #otterspecialistgroup
Chloe and Liz standing in front of the 16th International Otter Congress banner Universidad Cientifica del Sur
February 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
otterproject.bsky.social
Join the #WorldRecordAttempt to clean up the River Taff!
Athlete & environmentalist Kate Strong and Cardiff Uni’s Dr. Numair Masud are leading a #SpringCleanCymru 2025 event! We’ll be there—will you?
📆 21 March 2025
📍 River Taff (various locations)
🕙 11:00 - 14:00
#RiverCleanUp #OtterProject
February 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM