Otter Perspectives

The Problem

It is hard to generate support for the conservation of elusive fauna, such as smooth-coated otters. As such fauna are rarely seen, they are perceived as less important, and less integral, to the landscape they inhabit. This false perception results in insufficient conservation, and eventually, in the extirpation of such species from their habitat. Smooth-coated otters in Goa, India, specifically are rarely seen in the wild, unlike their more famous siblings in Singapore. Local community members rarely see live otters in the wild, and only a very lucky tourist will obtain a sighting. The destruction of their habitat for agriculture or development is thus hard to contest, as they are not perceived to exist in the landscape. The lack of smooth-coated otter visibility in the landscape is thus a conservation problem.

Our Proposal

We propose to communicate the reality of otter presence in the landscape using virtual reality. There are multiple pieces to this solution: 1) Creating highly accurate 3D models of sections of otter-inhabitated landscapes using UAV-based photogrammetry. 2) Mapping out the routes otters use to traverse these landscapes using field data from sign surveys and camera traps. 3) Using underwater ROVs to replicate otter movement underwater. 4) Creating highly-accurate depictions of individual smooth-coated otters based on camera trap footage. We will then combine all these components to create an immersive Virtual Reality experience that clearly communicates the beauty and charisma of smooth-coated otters in their landscapes. The viewer will have the option to either experience the landscape from an otter's perspective, or as an observer watching an otter, or family of otters, navigate through a landscape. This experience will be made available free of cost to local community members, policy makers and the general public to raise awareness about the need to conserve smooth-coated otters and to protect their habitat.

We Assume that...

a) we can make people become more emphatic towards wildlife using virtual reality experiences.

b) we can make compelling virtual reality experiences that communicate the wildlife/habitat interaction.

c) Raising awareness of the existence and importance of smooth-coated otters will lead to better conservation outcomes

Constraints to Overcome

The lack of visibility of wildlife can make it difficult to communicate the importance of conserving them, especially to policymakers who have little or no interest in making the attempt to view them in their habitat. In the case of elusive species such as smooth-coated otters, making the conservation argument to local communities is also hard, as members are often unaware of the beauty and charisma of the wildlife they share their landscapes with. By creating interactive VR experiences that depict the wildlife as an integral component of the landscape, we'll ensure that we use the charisma of smooth-coated otters to aid in their conservation.

Current Work

We've already created our first few drone-based 3D models of an otter landscape; over the next 3-6 months, we're going to be optimising these models for the VR experience. We're also going to be working with 3D animators to create the 3D models of the smooth-coated otters, and will then begin assembling the experience itself.

Current Needs

We've been running this project independently, as we believe in its conservation value. However, we're now at the stage where to devote more time to this project, we'll need funding support, both for the hours we're spending on it's development as well as to bring technical consultants on board for specific tasks. We have our technical experts handy, but could also benefit from speaking to other people working in the VR space to fine-tune our work.