Product Description

Otters are highly charismatic and popular animals of very considerable concern to conservationists worldwide. Written by the pre-eminent authority in the field, this book builds on the reputation of the author's landmark monograph of the European otter, Wild Otters (OUP, 1995). Furthermore, its broader scope to include all species of otter in North America as well as Europe and elsewhere leads to a deeper synthesis that greatly expands the book's overall relevance and potential readership. Aimed at naturalists, scientists and conservationists, its personal style and generously illustrated text will appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. It emphasises recent research and conservation management initiatives for all 13 species of otter worldwide, incorporates recent molecular research on taxonomy and population genetics, and discusses the wider implications of otter studies for ecology and conservation biology. As well as enchanting direct observations of the animals, there is guidance about how and where to watch and study them. From otters in the British and American lakes and rivers, to sea otters in the Pacific Ocean, giant otters in the Amazon and other species in Africa and Asia, this book provides an engaging approach to their fascinating existence, to the science needed to understand it, and to the very real threats to their survival.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #230025 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

The Guardian, November 25, 2006
Kruuk is one of our leading behavioural scientists, and his
knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject shine through.

Review
Anyone interested in the countryside or animals should have this on their bookshelves. Highland News, January 2008.

This is a much more comprehensive book than anything that has gone before and deals with otter species worldwide (Keith Day and Brian Rushton, THES )

This will be a mine of information for any scientist and a good read for anyone interested in mammals. Keith Day and Brian Rushton. (The Times Higher Education Supplement )

Enthusiasm is attractive, and from the start of this book oozes the excitement that Kruuk feels in the company of otters...don't be put off by the slightly academic feel to this book - the writing is very accessible. (BBC Wildlife, )

For a more in-depth look at one of our favourite mammals, Otters, Behaviour and Conservation, by Hans Kruuk is an excellent choice. Kruuk is one of our leading behavioural scientists, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject shine through. (Stephen Moss, The Guardian )

This book represents an excellent and up-to-date elaboration of our knowledge on all 13 species worldwide and, as such, is an important book for anyone interested in otters. The author has done his best to satisfy the needs of both scientists and naturalists, and this book is very likely to become a significant reference source on these exciting and charismatic animals. (Petra Hajkova, Folia Zoologica )

Kruuk is one of our leading behavioural scientists, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject shine through. (The Guardian )

About the Author
Studied animal behaviour under Prof. Niko Tinbergen (FRS, Nobel Laureate) at Oxford. Co-founder of the Serengeti Research Institute, Tanzania, where he carried out research over seven years, before returning to Oxford, and later to the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology in Banchory, Scotland. After becoming Senior Principal Research Officer, he retired as emeritus in 1997. Awarded the scientific medal of the Zoological Society of London and the scientific medal of the British Mammal
Society, he obtained a DSc from the University of Aberdeen and was made Honorary Professor, University of Aberdeen in 1998. He has carried out research projects on mammals and birds on all continents, published 6 previous books and some 120 scientific papers. He has studied otters in the field for over 20 years, and published about 40 papers and one previous book on the ecology of otters.

Customer Reviews

First rate reference work about otter ecology
Hans Kruuk and his various colleagues have been responsible for some of the best studies and research on otter ecology and behaviour. This book pulls together years of work in a thorough and enjoyable. It covers ecology, otters of the world, habitat requirements, social organisation, diet, hunting behaviour, population dynamics and conservation. Once read you will have a good general academic knowledge of the species and I expect that a lot of Prof. Kruuk's enthusiasm will have rubbed off too.
The opening line of the book's preface is "My main, honest excuse for writing this book is that I very much like otters and the places where they live, and I like writing about them." It shows. This is an excellent work.