An otter was filmed by cameras in the lagoon oasis of the king of Manfredonia (Foggia).
Its presence was therefore confirmed, a few years after the previous sighting, within the protected wetland.
The oasis itself broke the news by underlining that "the exceptional video certifies the presence of the otter" and "consecrates the excellent work done so far for the protection of the wetlands of Manfredonia".
The otter is a very rare protected species typical of rivers and wetlands.
In 1986, the oasis still recalls, after the national census of the WWF "the results were disheartening because the otter almost completely disappeared in Italy. In Puglia, the remaining populations were limited exclusively along the Ofanto and Fortore rivers in a few areas".
In the years that followed from 2000 onwards, thanks to greater attention and protection of river environments and wetlands, the establishment of protected areas and the natura2000 network, the otter population began to recover.
The rest, it is added, "is today's history, with this beautiful video from the cameras of the oasis, a clear signal of the strategic importance of the wetlands of the Gulf of Manfredonia for the protection of biodiversity on a national scale".
From the oasis they also reiterate that "among the most serious anthropogenic threats to this species is the destruction of habitats which still occurs today despite the rules and laws and we undoubtedly also point out the impact with motor vehicles and the consequent environmental fragmentation due to rent road network resulting in the discovery of specimens killed by impacts with motor vehicles".
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