Zur Verbreitung des Fischotters (Lutra lutra L., 1758) in Sachsen-Anhalt

Abstract

The otter is one of the most endangered mammal species in Europe. Decline of otter in Sachsen-Anhaltreached a maximum at the end of the seventies and beginning of the eighties. Little and only fragmentedinformation on the distribution of otters during the last decade was present and no systematicsurvey has been done before. Based on information obtained by the inquiry of hunters and provided bypeople interested in nature as weil as by voluntary coworkers ofthe "Bezirksarbeitsgruppe Artenschutz"Magdeburg priority regions for the survey were selected.Otters are widely distributed in the north (Elbe-Havel-Winkel) and southeast (Eibe-Elster-Winkel)closely connected to viable populations in Brandenburg. At most big rivers in Sachsen-Anhalt andespecially all along the river Eibe otter-signs were noticeable. River Eibe equally connects local patchesof otter occurrence as weil as populations at a supra-regional Ievel.Comparing the actual distribution of otters with older data a re-colonisation of earlier settled areas canbe ascertained.