Giant River Otter

"Known locally as “wolves of the river," the endangered giant river otter is not as ferocious as its name implies. Its naturally curious disposition made the otter an easy target for hunters who killed them for their precious fur, decreasing their population to a few thousand in the wild. Though protective legislation enacted in the 1980s made hunting illegal, the giant river otter is still at risk today. Habitat loss and pollution from mining, logging, damming, and overfishing are currently the major threats to the survival of this species."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Only buy FSC-certified paper products and furniture and support groups conserving the Amazon.

• Avoid products that contribute to deforestation, such as beef, soy, or palm oil linked to Amazon habitat loss.

• Reduce water pollution and plastic waste, which contaminate the rivers and fish populations giant river otters depend on.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO HELP

Visit:

• Wildlife Conservation Society, Peru

• Fundación Omacha (Colombia)

• IUCN Otter Specialist Group

• Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (Brazil)