Increasingly inbred otters – Telegraaf.nl

WAGENINGEN –

Good news and bad news about Dutch otters: there are more and more – about 140 now – but the genetic variation of the animals late due to inbreeding much to be desired

That Alterra research reports based on the monitoring round that the research institute of the University of Wageningen performs each year. Alterra does not dare to say what the consequences of inbreeding. Fertility could decrease the female otters and could reduce the survival rate of young animals.

Fresh blood

Because the different otter populations isolated from each life, the short-term inbreeding will not decrease. Alterra recommends ‘fresh blood’ to bring in, in the form of inclusion in a train of “genetically unrelated individuals.

Alterra calls it positive that otters popping up in new habitats, such as the Nieuwkoopseplassen.

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