Lutra 46(1)_Editorial_2003

Endangered species

This issue focuses on endangered species, i.e. species that are listed on a national or interna­tional Red List: the otter (two full articles), the hamster and the Leisler's bat. In the book re­views even an extinct species is highlighted: the aurochs. Although the rabbit is not endangered, the prospects for this species may be doubtful since the appearance of the Viral Haemorrhagic Syndrome in the mid 1990s. Bankert et al. com­pare several methods for estimating rabbit den­sities, which knowledge may be useful in the near future if problems for the rabbit become a reality. We have certainly made progress in our know­ledge about and experience with the re-introduc­tion of some of these endangered species, as can be conc!uded from the story about the "Knardijk­otter" from Jansman et al. Although this otter, which was found as a traffic casualty, .......