TY - JOUR

T1 - The historical and contemporary status of the sea otter Enhydra lutris population on Urup Island, southern Kuril Islands

AU - Попов, Игорь Юрьевич

AU - Скопин, Алексей

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - We describe the population of the Еndangered sea otter Enhydra lutris on Urup Island, one of the main wildlife refuges in the southern Kuril Islands of Russia. We reviewed historical and local reports of the sea otter, identified its habitat around the island, and surveyed the coastal waters of the island in 2019. Sea otters were numerous on Urup Island in the past but were hunted excessively and almost exterminated by the 1950s. Since then, sea otter populations have increased, and as the island is almost uninhabited we expected otters to be numerous. This was not the case, and we estimated the total population to be 363 ± SE 126 individuals. Our observation of two skinned carcasses on the shore suggests the low numbers are a result of poaching for the illegal fur trade. The case of Urup Island demonstrates that sea otters require active conservation, as even on a remote island they remain threatened. Establishment of protected areas would be an effective conservation measure for this species, although the suppression of demand for sea otter fur is of the greatest importance.

AB - We describe the population of the Еndangered sea otter Enhydra lutris on Urup Island, one of the main wildlife refuges in the southern Kuril Islands of Russia. We reviewed historical and local reports of the sea otter, identified its habitat around the island, and surveyed the coastal waters of the island in 2019. Sea otters were numerous on Urup Island in the past but were hunted excessively and almost exterminated by the 1950s. Since then, sea otter populations have increased, and as the island is almost uninhabited we expected otters to be numerous. This was not the case, and we estimated the total population to be 363 ± SE 126 individuals. Our observation of two skinned carcasses on the shore suggests the low numbers are a result of poaching for the illegal fur trade. The case of Urup Island demonstrates that sea otters require active conservation, as even on a remote island they remain threatened. Establishment of protected areas would be an effective conservation measure for this species, although the suppression of demand for sea otter fur is of the greatest importance.

KW - Enhydra lutris

KW - Kuril Islands

KW - Russia

KW - Urup Island

KW - fur trade

KW - poaching

KW - population decline

KW - sea otter

KW - DECLINES

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105987402&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/42658c4d-9369-364e-bd01-359e6f90fe4c/

U2 - 10.1017/S0030605320000812

DO - 10.1017/S0030605320000812

M3 - Review article

VL - 55

SP - 529

EP - 534

JO - Oryx

JF - Oryx

SN - 0030-6053

IS - 4

ER -