Lontra longicaudis (Mustelidae) in La Vieja river basin, Risaralda, Colombia

Abstract

The neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis is a conservation target in the management of the Western Andes. This species is susceptible to pressures such as pollution, and hunting., Estimating its distribution and abundance are essential to plan and adapt management strategies for these landscapes. Using occupancy models, we estimated occupancy of 0.52 (PI95%=0.26-0.87) with a probability of detection of 0.36 (PI95%=0.18-0.56). No effects were found on the probability of occupancy by selected covariates. We recommend extending the management and monitoring programs to a broader scale with sampling units equivalent to the home range size of the species.