This time a male otter from Munich’s Hellabrunn Zoo was brought from the Bavarian capital to the Fukushima Museum of Science in Japan.
Both institutions, the Munich Zoo and the Fukushima, are partners in the “EEP,” the European Endangered Species Protection Program, whose mission is to preserve balanced animal populations, serving as a future reserve source for replenishing disappearing wild animal populations in Nature.
The otters as an animal group are suffering the destruction of their living environment as a result of water pollution, the increasing level of insecticides, and destruction of food resources by over-fishing. Furthermore, they are increa-singly perceived to be a competitor for human food sources. Yet, despite prohibitions on hunting them, they are hunted, further reducing their numbers.
There are various groups within the otter genus. Generally they are excellent swimmers and divers and have settled in all sorts of inland waterways and even rocky seacoasts. This particular otter measures 1.2 meters or about 41-inches and is a good representative of his species.
Lufthansa, Germany’s national air carrier, had to comply with special provisions for transporting the otter based on species protection requirements.
The so-called CITES-provisions for endangered species also are valid for otters and compliance must be proven to be in effect prior to transport. These stringent requirements are rigorous. However G.K: Air’s strict compliance is part of its everyday routine. With more than 40 years’ experience, GK has flown almost every known animal -- in complete accordance with governmental regulations and species preservation requirements.
In order to keep the stress level at a minimum for animal passengers such as the otter in this instance, particular attention is paid towards the transport cages. They must also be in compliance with IATA regulations as well. IATA is the international organization for airlines. And there are any number of addition-al provisos which concern this otter-passenger. But, here, too, G.K. Air’s well-seasoned Frankfurt-based team has everything well under control.
Thanks to G.K. Air, the otter arrived safely and on time at his new home in Japan and is thriving in his new environment.
