Otter

Although rarely seen in the wild, the otter is admired for its playful character and graceful aquatic agility, which were established in the popular imagination through books and films such as Tarka the Otter and Ring of Bright Water. This, however, is just a small part of the story -- throughout history, the otter has also been widely hunted for its fur and to prevent it from killing fish. The author reveals how the animal's identity has been shaped by human interactions. Otters have been hunted to near extinction by some communities -- killed for their valuable pelts in the North Pacific and chased with hounds for sport in Britain. In contrast, some Native Americans revered the otter and fishermen in parts of Asia trained otters to assist them. Sadly, all thirteen species of otter are now considered threatened, and their survival is by no means certain. This book includes anecdotes from folklore, sports, and popular literature, as well as exploring the movement against otter hunting and the ongoing efforts toward the otter's conservation.