Conservation Status
Subject to devastating skin hunting up until the 80´s, this otter is one of the two or three most endangered species of large vertebrates in South America. Although surveys in 1980 and 1990 estimated only 1,000-3,000 animals surviving in remote rivers of tropical South America, it would appear that in the Pantanal and SE Peru, in particular, this otter has increased its populations over the past 20 years. In April 2005, Ribas and Mourão stated that every river in the Pantanal that is in reasonable condition and contains significant fish populations harbours Giant Otters. They even confirmed that Giant Otters now live along the banks of the mighty Paraguay River within the city limits of Corumbá (population 100,000), the only large city actually deep inside the Pantanal. Corumbá has jet flights and excellent hotels, and should be the Giant Otter capital of the world.
Though data are too spotty to give an accurate idea of global trends in Giant Otter populations, it would appear that they are increasing in the Pantanal, at least, and are reclaiming many rivers that had been traditional strongholds before they were decimated by the savage skin hunting of 1950-1985. Increased funding for regular, broader surveys of the species in each of its range countries would yield a clearer picture of the status of Giant Otters throughout tropical South America.
One possible method for increasing funding for surveys and active protection of the species would be testing and then implementing well designed ecotourism options that guarantee affordable, reliable, close-range viewing of this powerful predator. Tests in 1990 in Manu suggested that tourists who see Giant Otters well at close range not only create local wealth for tour operators, but also are willing to contribute enough to nonprofit otter protection to allow the otters to generate good salaries for their own, personal, radio-equipped guards.. But it must be emphasized that travelers who experience these beasts at close range (at less than 20 m, and preferably at less than 10 m) are MUCH more impressed and much more likely to contribute to otter conservation than are those who catch fleeting glimpes of otters at 40-100 m or more.
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