Science at UM [S05-ep10]: Otter, are you there?

[Podcast] - Published on February 27, 2026 in Science-Society

This week in Science at UM, Simon Lacombe, a doctoral student at the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology , talks to us about the return of otters to the banks of the Lez. The report takes us to the Jardin des Plantes with its director, John Devos. The program is broadcast every Wednesday on the radio station Divergence.

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It is the symbol of the first European treaty for the protection of wildlife and natural habitats. The otter, a semi-aquatic carnivore, is making a comeback in France. Yet the cutest animal in our rivers has come a long way, as the species had almost disappeared in the second half of the 20th century.

Hunted for its fur, persecuted by fishermen and fish farmers who saw it as an overly voracious neighbor, and impacted by the degradation of its natural habitats, the otter gradually declined. It was not until 1972 that hunting them was banned, and 1981 that the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife changed their status from pest to protected species.

Between 2000 and 2004, it benefited from an initial restoration plan that laid the foundations for the main measures to be implemented to promote its return. Then, between 2010 and 2015, a national action plan was launched to ensure the long-term conservation of the species, followed by a second plan that will run until 2028.

These measures are paying off, as otters are now present in around 75% of the territory, including on the banks of the Lez. But don't expect to see one on your Sunday stroll—there's little chance of that happening. The animal is far too discreet, but perhaps next Sunday, as you stroll along, it will be watching you from its shelter, and just knowing this is enough to transform the way we look at the environment in which we live.

Good news isn't that common, so we wanted to find out more. To do so, we welcomed Simon Lacombe, a doctoral student at the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology. He was lucky enough to observe this fascinating animal settling on the banks of the Lez River. He told us all about its diet, activity period, interspecific interactions, and the geographical origins of the individuals.

Read:

Study of the return of the European otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) to the Lez River using non-invasive population monitoring methods and close collaboration between academic and regional organizations.

To watch:

CNRS report: The return of the otter to the Lez

In the second part of the program, I invite you to take a stroll through the Jardin des Plantes. Since December, the main gate, which had been closed for over 20 years, has reopened at the top of the garden. This is an opportunity to rediscover this iconic place, which is what I did in the company of John Devos, its director. First episode.

At UM Science, you have the program, so let's get started!

Co-production: Divergence FM / University of Montpellier
Hosts: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Lucie Lecherbonnier / Aline Périault
Reporting: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Production: Alice Rollet

Listen to the program “A l’UM la science” on Divergence FM 93.9