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Reposted by Cardiff University Otter Project

Frank Hailer @o-o-frank.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Lead supervisor: Elizabeth Chadwick, co-supervisors besides myself: Glória Pereira, Lee Walker, Helen Thompson @otterproject.bsky.social @one-cardiffuni.bsky.social @cardiffuni.bsky.social

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Reposted by Cardiff University Otter Project

Frank Hailer @o-o-frank.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Congratulations to our newly fledged #PhD, Dr Holly Hulme, who just successfully defended her PhD thesis on biomonitoring of chemicals in two sentinel species, common buzzards and Eurasian otters!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨NEW PAPER🚨 doi.org/10.1007/s103... In this new paper, led by researchers at Edinburgh Napier University in collaboration with the Cardiff University Otter Project, the authors present a novel method that estimates cub size relative to their mother using pixel measurements from camera-trap footage.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

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!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🌎️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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

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! 🦦

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

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...

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

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.

tonal-uk.com

Home | Tonal

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

❄️🎁⛄MERRY CHRISTMAS from CUOP🦦🎄🔔

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

⚠️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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

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!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

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!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

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

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

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.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

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!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

We are honoured to have our most recent Otter Survey Wales work featured in the Esri UK ThinkGIS magazine! (resource.esriuk.com/publications...)

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

After being unable to perform post-mortems since February we are finally back in the lab! The placement students have enjoyed being able to begin their lab training and we have even found some abnormalities already. Otter #4715 had a very enlarged gall bladder and gallstones.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Welcome to our final placement student Sorrel, completing our team for this year!

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

We would like to welcome our second placement student for this year. Sandy Huang

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Today in celebration of #WorldRiversDay we wanted to recognise our river here in Cardiff - The River Taff, which has a supports a wide range of species including our beloved otters. World Rivers Day aims to spread awareness for rivers around the world, ensuring they continue to improve and thrive.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Following on from our previous post about the status of mammals in Wales, we would like to highlight ‘WMBAF’. The Wales Mammal Biodiversity Action Forum is a network of individuals and organisations who work on mammals in Wales; our project lead Dr Chadwick is one of the members. 📸Ian Humphries

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

A third of our native mammals in Wales are now threatened with extinction. @mammalsociety.bsky.social have made this infographic highlighting the action needed to support Welsh wildlife as a whole. Our work on otters is just part of wider conservation efforts for mammals in Britain.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Following some post mortems on otters killed on railways, we conducted further research. We discovered a serious and often unseen danger to otters in the UK: electrified 'third rail' railway lines.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Holly, an Otter Project PhD student, attended the SETAC Young Environmental Scientists Meeting in York. It gathered young environmentalists to discuss toxicology and chemistry. She presented her research on lead contamination in Eurasian otters and Common buzzards as an indicator for pollution.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Introducing our new placement student Sophie Sharp who has just joined us for this year.

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

A huge well done to everyone who graduated last week, especially our amazing Otter Project alumni! 🦦Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Sarah Raymond (@sarahraymond.bsky.social) - PhDs 🦦Manus Leidi - MBiol 🦦Liberty, Oscar, Phoebe, and Scarlet - BSc's We're so proud of you all! #Graduation2025

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Cardiff University Otter Project @otterproject.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Our own Dr Emily O'Rourke and Dr Elizabeth Chadwick are both contributors to this POSTnote, which will help inform the current parliamentary inquiry into the risks of PFAS in our environment: post.parliament.uk/research-bri...

post.parliament.uk

Regulation and remediation of ‘forever’ chemicals

This POSTnote summarises debates on regulatory approaches for addressing the environmental impacts arising from per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

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