Improving the status of Lutra lutra and their habitat in the cross-border area of the National Park Skadar Lake

Green Home, in partnership with Wildlife Montenegro and PPNEA, is implementing a project dedicated to the near-threatened species of Eurasian otter (Lutra Lutra). The project, “Improving the status of Lutra lutra and their habitat in the cross-border area of National Park Skadar Lake,” aims to enhance otter conservation by gathering comprehensive data on their population. These data will be used to preserve the whole Shkodra Lake and increase awareness of its importance and conservation efforts.

In addition, this cross-border initiative has strengthened the collaboration between all stakeholders sharing this ecosystem, NGOs, authorities, and the fisherman community.

The Eurasian otter, also known as the European otter, is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal that is easily recognizable but rarely observed in the wild. Head-torso length may reach up to 95 cm (not including tail), and male specimens may weigh as much as 17 kg. The fur is brownish and at the throat often of a lighter creamy color. The otter is a solitary territorial species and uses feces as well as mucus secretion for interspecies communication. Those marking sites are frequently located at landmarks, such as bridges, estuaries, stones, or other prominent landscape features.

The Eurasian otter is widely distributed in Albania. It can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats, such as lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, as well as coastal areas. They are strongly dependent on bankside vegetation and the availability of denning sites such as holes in the river banks or cavities under trees, rocks, etc. The species is surprisingly tolerant towards anthropogenic pressure and may be found even in highly polluted environments.

Lutra lutra is classified as Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List.  Moreover, this species is listed in Appendices II and IV of the Habitats and Birds Directive. The aquatic habitats of otters are extremely vulnerable to man-made changes. Canalization of rivers, removal of bankside vegetation, dam construction, draining of wetlands, aquaculture activities, and associated man-made impacts on aquatic systems are all unfavorable to otter populations.

Project will take place in the cross-border area of Skadar Lake in the border area of Montenegro and Albania. National Park Skadar Lake in Montenegro and Nature Reserve Skadar Lake in Albania are the targeted area of this project and this area belongs to the European Green Belt area.

Financial support: European Union through the BestBelt initiative.

Duration: 11 months

Project partners: Green Home (Lead NGO), Wildlife Montenegro