After half a century of absence, the European otter He is gradually regaining his natural space in Northern Italy. The news comes from the recent reliefs conducted byWildlife management office and from theSouth Tyrol fishing unionwho have documented the recolonization of areas where the species had long since disappeared. A silent but significant return for theriver ecosystem.
From the first sightings to the new settlement
The first appearance of the Lonters in South Tyrol dates back to 2008along the course of the Dravon the border with Austria. Since then there has been a slow but constant Increase in presencein particular along the Rio sixth. However, the crossing towards adjacent hydrographic basins – such as that ofAdige – It still seemed far away.
Everything has changed in the Spring 2024when an adult specimen was found invested in Val d’Ega. It was the first individual observed in the Adige basin after more than fifty years. A tragic event that however sparked the interest of the experts and pushed to intensify the environmental monitoring.
The otter beyond the drava
DuringWinter 2024-2025targeted studies have been conducted along the secondary waterways and near the bridges, looking for signs of presence: excrements, footprints and anal secretions. The analyzes have confirmed the presence of lartre along the river river, up to the confluence with the Rio Furcia and in its tributaries, including i rii of Casies, Anterselva And Braies.
This expansion represents a fundamental step in the diffusion of the species towards Alto Adige Internal, reporting a reopening of ecological corridors It is a greater connectivity between natural habitats.
Between protection and new challenges for the environment
If on the one hand the return of the otter is a positive sign for the biodiversityon the other hand involves challenges for those who work in the world of fishing. Being a Protected Ittiofago predatorhis presence could influence fish populations in the waterways. To deal with this complexity, the use of genetic analysis To better map the population and studies on theichthiofauna to evaluate the ecological impact.
In parallel, the causes of the failure to expand to areas such as the Isarco Valley and the Val Venostaprobably linked to the presence of structural barriers and the lack of environmental connectivity. In short, the return of the LonTra is not only good news for nature, but also a reference to a more integrated and forward -looking management of the territory.
