A few weeks ago The Otter Project was a part of Exploring Bioscience at Cardiff University. We have enjoyed showing the students some of what we do. We went on a walk along the Taff to survey otter spraint and our lead Dr Elizabeth Chadwick performed a post mortem in person for the students.

Cyfle i ymgymryd â lleoliad gwaith yn 2026–27! Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg? Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!

It's time for a return to our #anatomy series, starting with the scent glands! Photo credit: Elizabeth Chadwick

We have had the pleasure of welcoming many fantastic placement students to The Cardiff University Otter Project. They are always eager to offer their help! To all our former students: thank you so much for your hard work! We would love to catch up and hear what you're up to now.

Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy? Our data and samples are used in a wide range of research and help guide conservation. Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant!

We are honoured to have our most recent Otter Survey Wales work featured in the Esri UK ThinkGIS magazine! (resource.esriuk.com/publications...)

After being unable to perform post-mortems since February we are finally back in the lab! The placement students have enjoyed being able to begin their lab training and we have even found some abnormalities already. Otter #4715 had a very enlarged gall bladder and gallstones.

Welcome to our final placement student Sorrel, completing our team for this year!

We would like to welcome our second placement student for this year. Sandy Huang

Today in celebration of #WorldRiversDay we wanted to recognise our river here in Cardiff - The River Taff, which has a supports a wide range of species including our beloved otters. World Rivers Day aims to spread awareness for rivers around the world, ensuring they continue to improve and thrive.

Following on from our previous post about the status of mammals in Wales, we would like to highlight ‘WMBAF’. The Wales Mammal Biodiversity Action Forum is a network of individuals and organisations who work on mammals in Wales; our project lead Dr Chadwick is one of the members. 📸Ian Humphries

A third of our native mammals in Wales are now threatened with extinction. @mammalsociety.bsky.social have made this infographic highlighting the action needed to support Welsh wildlife as a whole. Our work on otters is just part of wider conservation efforts for mammals in Britain.

Following some post mortems on otters killed on railways, we conducted further research. We discovered a serious and often unseen danger to otters in the UK: electrified 'third rail' railway lines.

Holly, an Otter Project PhD student, attended the SETAC Young Environmental Scientists Meeting in York. It gathered young environmentalists to discuss toxicology and chemistry. She presented her research on lead contamination in Eurasian otters and Common buzzards as an indicator for pollution.

Introducing our new placement student Sophie Sharp who has just joined us for this year.

A huge well done to everyone who graduated last week, especially our amazing Otter Project alumni! 🦦Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Sarah Raymond (@sarahraymond.bsky.social) - PhDs 🦦Manus Leidi - MBiol 🦦Liberty, Oscar, Phoebe, and Scarlet - BSc's We're so proud of you all! #Graduation2025

Our own Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Elizabeth Chadwick are both contributors to this POSTnote, which will help inform the current parliamentary inquiry into the risks of PFAS in our environment: post.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Happy World Otter Day from all of us at the Otter Project! 🦦🌍 #WorldOtterDay #OtterProject #OtterConservation #TeamOtter #CardiffUniversity #lutralutra 📷 Otter photo: Freddie Montague-Dennis

Gu is joining the otter team for her PhD! 🦦 She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Inspection and Quarantine from Guangdong Medical University (2018) and a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Aberdeen (2023). Find Gu on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/qub-gu-ot....

📣 I’m excited to be able to share our new publication! 📣 Our research on historical genomic variation 🧬 in Eurasian otters 🦦 (Lutra lutra) in Britain demonstrates the viability of hunting trophy specimens as sources of historical DNA. doi.org/10.1007/s126...

🦦🐣 Happy Easter from the Otter Project!

The Otter Project is celebrating World Aquatic Animal Day today! 🌊🐾 This annual event raises awareness about aquatic animals and the vital roles they play in ecosystems worldwide🌍💧 Photo: Rob Williams #WorldAquaticAnimalDay #OtterProject #SaveOurSeas

Introducing Sandra, a Portuguese PhD student from the @cfe_engel research group at the University of Coimbra. Part of her research will be developed in collaboration with the Otter Project, at Cardiff! @cfe_engel @e3g_uc #WildlifeConservation #Lutralutra #GeneticsResearch #GenomicsResearch #otters

Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦦 🍃☀️ In celebration, our placement students and volunteers did a survey looking for otter spraint and footprints.

Don't forget to sign up to our e-newsletter! The newest edition is coming out soon 🦦 ! Copy the link below to sign up: eepurl.com/cWWYlX Photo: Jeff Chard #newsletter #cardiffuni #eurasianotter #conservation #ukwildlife #ecology #cardiffuniversityotterproject #conservation #biosciences #otters

We are excited to be attending the 16th International Otter Congress in Peru this week! #16thIOC #weloveotters #IUCN #otterspecialistgroup

Join the #WorldRecordAttempt to clean up the River Taff! Athlete & environmentalist Kate Strong and Cardiff Uni’s Dr. Numair Masud are leading a #SpringCleanCymru 2025 event! We’ll be there—will you? 📆 21 March 2025 📍 River Taff (various locations) 🕙 11:00 - 14:00 #RiverCleanUp #OtterProject

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, here's an hommage (or womanage?) to the many brilliant scientists I get to work with in our Cardiff University Otter Project (@otterproject.bsky.social)

Applications are open for a NERC Red-ALERT CDT PhD with us, in partnership with Cardiff University, @ukceh.bsky.social, and Natural Resources Wales. More information here: tinyurl.com/bdekfdtw

Looking for an undergrad placement in the conservation field with a focus on lab work, data analysis and anatomy? Our data and samples are used in a range of research and help guide conservation. Apply to join the Otter Project team as a research assistant and help with this important work!

We post mortem otters found dead in Wales, England, and Scotland. If you have found a dead otter please contact the relevant organisation below: • Wales: Natural Resources Wales 0300 0653000 • England: Environment Agency 03708 506506 • Scotland: International Otter Survival Fund 01471 822487