We would like to give a huge thank you to our 2025-26 placement year students, Sorrel, Sophie, and Sandy. Since September, they have helped lead several local engagement events and assisted in performing 194 postmortems. They have played a crucial role, and we wish them all the very best!

Another engagement event😀!

We are proud to announce that we have received our Bronze LEAF certification. This reflects the project’s commitment to laboratory sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment as part of the laboratory efficiency assessment framework (LEAF). Thank you to the LEAF team for your support!

Introducing our second volunteer, Tom, who will help us over the summer!

Introducing our new volunteer, Iestyn, who will be joining us for the summer!

🌎️5TH JUNE 2026 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY🌱 🍀🌸Contaminants disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, leading to direct harm to aquatic organisms and significant effects throughout the food web. 🦦🌊Apex predators such as otters are most vulnerable to the impacts of water pollution.

Happy World Otter Day! We want to say a huge thank you to our collection network who make what we do possible. In particular the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales who do equally amazing work in England and Wales. We received 157 otters thanks to the brilliant people supporting us.

🦦🦔🐿️🦫🦨🦇 Celebrate National Mammal Week with CUOP for all the incredible wild mammals in UK!🎉

Otter #4801 is a juvenile found dead near Oxford. The otter was estimated to be approximately 2 months old, but lacked any development of hind limbs or pelvis.

Welcome our new placement student for April -- Tim Trautner!!🎉🦦

On the 16th February Cardiff University Otter Project held a stall at the 'Be A Scientist' event in Sbarc|Spark. It was wonderful to meet some young aspiring scientists and introduce them to the Otter Project! 🦦

Our new paper on mitogenome sequences from otter spraint, with Sarah and Jenny as joint first authors, has been featured in an article by phys.org! Read the article here: phys.org/news/2026-03...

Introducing our newest member Solveig! She is a vet student from France here to learn about what we do and conduct a research project. 🦦

🚨New paper out Recovering whole mitogenome sequences from Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraint samples: a metagenomic approach doi.org/10.1098/rsos... @sduplessis.bsky.social @otterproject.bsky.social @molecol-cardiffuni.bsky.social

Recovering whole mitogenome sequences from Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraint samples: a metagenomic approach

Abstract. Non-invasive genetic monitoring of endangered species and populations is a crucial component of conservation biology, especially for elusive spec

doi.org

It was great to host Dave Groves, from the Cornwall Mammal Group, here at Cardiff University Otter Project. Dave was here to talk about otter diet, and identification of prey remains from spraint.

In honour of International Women and Girls in Science Day we wanted to celebrate the brilliant women in our team who help make our work possible.

Last weekend, The Otter Project was invited to run a session for the "Parent Power" event at Cardiff University. The event aimed to introduce students and their parents to higher education and support widening participation.

Last year we participated in a project, 'Tonal' www.tonal-uk.com - which focuses on issues linked to water. Artist Fiona MacDonald (@feralpractice) has created a series of podcasts, each of which is a conversation with someone who has either a professional or personal interest in water and rivers.

Home | Tonal

Tonal, by artist Feral Practice, explores the River Tone in Somerset and watery issues nationally.

tonal-uk.com

❄️🎁⛄MERRY CHRISTMAS from CUOP🦦🎄🔔

NOTICE: The CUOP will be closed from 24th December until 5th January. ❄️🎄🔔Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!🎁⛄🦦

We are happy to be featured in this article on the revival of otters in Britain, including the link to our paper on 'effective population size’. Our research suggests that optimism about recovery should be tempered with caution - low genetic diversity may limit future population resilience.

⚠️This post includes graphic images of unborn otter kits⚠️ Recently we post mortemed a pregnant otter and found two kits. Despite being upsetting, this finding is very valuable for research including genetic analysis and chemical contaminant studies.

Thanks to the IOSF & Colchester Zoo for hosting this wonderful workshop and inviting us 🦦 😆 #otter #conservation #wildlife #eurasianotter #teamotter

We have a new paper out! Research has found that PCB concentrations increased in otters between 2010 and 2019. This contrasts with the declines seen in previous studies since their UK regulation in 1982.

Applications close on December 1st for our 2026-27 Professional Training Year Placements! Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy? Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant and help with this important work!

A few weeks ago The Otter Project was a part of Exploring Bioscience at Cardiff University. We have enjoyed showing the students some of what we do. We went on a walk along the Taff to survey otter spraint and our lead Dr Elizabeth Chadwick performed a post mortem in person for the students.

Cyfle i ymgymryd â lleoliad gwaith yn 2026–27! Ydych chi’n chwilio am leoliad gwaith i israddedigion ym maes cadwraeth sy’n canolbwyntio ar waith labordy, dadansoddi data ac anatomeg? Gwnewch gais nawr i ymuno â’r Prosiect Dyfrgwn fel cynorthwyydd ymchwil a helpu gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn!

It's time for a return to our #anatomy series, starting with the scent glands! Photo credit: Elizabeth Chadwick

We have had the pleasure of welcoming many fantastic placement students to The Cardiff University Otter Project. They are always eager to offer their help! To all our former students: thank you so much for your hard work! We would love to catch up and hear what you're up to now.

Looking for an undergraduate placement in conservation with a focus on lab work, data analysis, and anatomy? Our data and samples are used in a wide range of research and help guide conservation. Apply now to join the Otter Project as a research assistant!