Cardiff University Otter Project
@otterproject.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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
• Wales: Natural Resources Wales 0300 0653000
• England: Environment Agency 03708 506506
• Scotland: International Otter Survival Fund 01471 822487
Last weekend, The Otter Project was invited to run a session for the "Parent Power" event at Cardiff University. The event aimed to introduce students and their parents to higher education and support widening participation.
February 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Last weekend, The Otter Project was invited to run a session for the "Parent Power" event at Cardiff University. The event aimed to introduce students and their parents to higher education and support widening participation.
Last year we participated in a project, 'Tonal' www.tonal-uk.com - which focuses on issues linked to water. Artist Fiona MacDonald (@feralpractice) has created a series of podcasts, each of which is a conversation with someone who has either a professional or personal interest in water and rivers.
Home | Tonal
Tonal, by artist Feral Practice, explores the River Tone in Somerset and watery issues nationally.
www.tonal-uk.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Last year we participated in a project, 'Tonal' www.tonal-uk.com - which focuses on issues linked to water. Artist Fiona MacDonald (@feralpractice) has created a series of podcasts, each of which is a conversation with someone who has either a professional or personal interest in water and rivers.
❄️🎁⛄MERRY CHRISTMAS from CUOP🦦🎄🔔
December 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
❄️🎁⛄MERRY CHRISTMAS from CUOP🦦🎄🔔
NOTICE:
The CUOP will be closed from 24th December until 5th January.
❄️🎄🔔Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!🎁⛄🦦
The CUOP will be closed from 24th December until 5th January.
❄️🎄🔔Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!🎁⛄🦦
December 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
NOTICE:
The CUOP will be closed from 24th December until 5th January.
❄️🎄🔔Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!🎁⛄🦦
The CUOP will be closed from 24th December until 5th January.
❄️🎄🔔Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!🎁⛄🦦
We are happy to be featured in this article on the revival of otters in Britain, including the link to our paper on 'effective population size’. Our research suggests that optimism about recovery should be tempered with caution - low genetic diversity may limit future population resilience.
December 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We are happy to be featured in this article on the revival of otters in Britain, including the link to our paper on 'effective population size’. Our research suggests that optimism about recovery should be tempered with caution - low genetic diversity may limit future population resilience.
⚠️This post includes graphic images of unborn otter kits⚠️
Recently we post mortemed a pregnant otter and found two kits. Despite being upsetting, this finding is very valuable for research including genetic analysis and chemical contaminant studies.
Recently we post mortemed a pregnant otter and found two kits. Despite being upsetting, this finding is very valuable for research including genetic analysis and chemical contaminant studies.
December 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
⚠️This post includes graphic images of unborn otter kits⚠️
Recently we post mortemed a pregnant otter and found two kits. Despite being upsetting, this finding is very valuable for research including genetic analysis and chemical contaminant studies.
Recently we post mortemed a pregnant otter and found two kits. Despite being upsetting, this finding is very valuable for research including genetic analysis and chemical contaminant studies.
Thanks to the IOSF & Colchester Zoo for hosting this wonderful workshop and inviting us 🦦 😆
#otter #conservation #wildlife #eurasianotter #teamotter
#otter #conservation #wildlife #eurasianotter #teamotter
December 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Thanks to the IOSF & Colchester Zoo for hosting this wonderful workshop and inviting us 🦦 😆
#otter #conservation #wildlife #eurasianotter #teamotter
#otter #conservation #wildlife #eurasianotter #teamotter
We have a new paper out! Research has found that PCB concentrations increased in otters between 2010 and 2019. This contrasts with the declines seen in previous studies since their UK regulation in 1982.
December 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We have a new paper out! Research has found that PCB concentrations increased in otters between 2010 and 2019. This contrasts with the declines seen in previous studies since their UK regulation in 1982.
Applications close on December 1st for our 2026-27 Professional Training Year Placements!
Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy?
Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant and help with this important work!
Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy?
Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant and help with this important work!
November 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Applications close on December 1st for our 2026-27 Professional Training Year Placements!
Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy?
Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant and help with this important work!
Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy?
Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant and help with this important work!
A few weeks ago The Otter Project was a part of Exploring Bioscience at Cardiff University. We have enjoyed showing the students some of what we do. We went on a walk along the Taff to survey otter spraint and our lead Dr Elizabeth Chadwick performed a post mortem in person for the students.
November 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
A few weeks ago The Otter Project was a part of Exploring Bioscience at Cardiff University. We have enjoyed showing the students some of what we do. We went on a walk along the Taff to survey otter spraint and our lead Dr Elizabeth Chadwick performed a post mortem in person for the students.
Cyfle i ymgymryd â lleoliad gwaith yn 2026–27!
Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg?
Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!
Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg?
Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!
November 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Cyfle i ymgymryd â lleoliad gwaith yn 2026–27!
Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg?
Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!
Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg?
Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!
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
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.
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!
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
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!
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!
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
We are honoured to have our most recent Otter Survey Wales work featured in the Esri UK ThinkGIS magazine! (resource.esriuk.com/publications...)
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
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.
Welcome to our final placement student Sorrel, completing our team for this year!
October 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Welcome to our final placement student Sorrel, completing our team for this year!
We would like to welcome our second placement student for this year. Sandy Huang
October 1, 2025 at 4:32 PM
We would like to welcome our second placement student for this year. Sandy Huang
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
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.
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
📸Ian Humphries
September 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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
📸Ian Humphries
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Introducing our new placement student Sophie Sharp who has just joined us for this year.
September 2, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Introducing our new placement student Sophie Sharp who has just joined us for this year.
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
🦦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
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
🦦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