JUNE 2024 INTERDEV PIM: Improving the Detection Tools Used to Identify the European Otter in Brittany

In June 2024, as part of the InterDEV PIM, a group of Master’s students from UBO, UBS, ENSTA Bretagne and IMT Atlantique designed and developed projects aimed at finding solutions to the sustainable development issues faced by local stakeholders.

Participants were based on the island of Ushant for 5 days and took part in various divergence (coming up with ideas) and convergence (making choices and organising ideas) workshops using the Design Thinking method, to explore issues and develop and prototype relevant and innovative solutions.

How can camera traps be used to improve the sampling effort and confirm the detection of Lutra Lutra, the European otter, on sites where its presence remains uncertain? This is what the 2 students in the group worked on for 5 days, developing a new photo-trap system and a specific protocol for this species using infrared cameras. Their goal was to update and complete the Observatoire de l’Environnement en Bretagne‘s database.

In October, they will be presenting their poster at the Breton Mammalogy Group meeting in Brest.

Supervisors :

• Grégory Charrier – LEMAR / UBO
• Riwalenn Ruault – ISblue / UBO