15 otters live again in Hamburg

After the otters were almost wiped out in Hamburg, a good dozen of these animals are now out and about in the waters of the Hanseatic city. At least 15 different otter individuals are currently living in Hamburg again, a spokesman for the Hamburg environmental authority told the German Press Agency. "In 2022, camera traps and genetic analyzes were used to detect at least ten different specimens in the south of Hamburg - five males and five females."

In addition, it turned out that there were already offspring. "In the south of Hamburg, the district of Bergedorf with the Vier- und Marschlanden is the most populated."

But otters have also been spotted in the north of Hamburg. In 2021, three males and two females were identified using camera traps and genetic analyses. “In the north of Hamburg, the otter is mainly found along the Wandse and Alster. The species is missing in the Altona district – still,” the spokesman continued.

The genetic analyzes also revealed that the otters living in Hamburg have a gene pool from the North German, Danish and Lower Saxon populations. "This indicates that Hamburg is a junction region between the surrounding, established otter populations and that Hamburg is being repopulated from several directions."

The Environment Agency is not aware of any problems with the otter. The animal is on the Red List and is considered endangered. "The return of the otter is generally perceived very positively in Hamburg," said the spokesman.

The Loki Schmidt Foundation is also happy about the growing number of otters in Hamburg. "We assume that the beaver created the conditions for the settlement of the otter," said a spokeswoman. There are no photos of the shy and fast animals yet, it said. But the foundation's wildlife cameras filmed a meeting of otters and beavers and three offspring in 2022.