SITES

	Greatham, Teesside, UK
	West Site, Billingham, UK
	Grimsby, Humberside, UK
	Calais, France
	Huelva, Spain
	Scarlino, Italy
Habitats on the Scarlino Site Insects Reptiles and Amphibians Birds Mammals Montioni Landfill Biodiversity Management
	Teluk Kalung, Malaysia
	Umbogintwini, South Africa
	Lake Charles, USA
	Burnie, Tasmania

Index by Category

Appendices

References

Scarlino, Italy

Mammals

The mammals on and around the Scarlino site have not been studied. There are some casual reports of a few species but for groups such as bats and rodents that must occur there are no records.

Otter (Lutra lutra)
An Otter (Lutra lutra) was watched for several minutes on the 27 May 1998. The animal was swimming and diving in an open area of water adjacent to a large Phragmites reedbed where the Padule di Scarlino enters the southwest corner of the site. Discussion with Tioxide personnel confirmed that Otters had been seen from time to time in these wetlands in recent years and that the animal occurred in other river systems inland from the site.

Otter populations declined throughout Europe during the 20th century and in some areas only vestigial populations remained by the 1980s (Chanin 1985). The reasons for the decline are not fully understood in all areas but habitat loss, pollution and human persecution probably all played a part. However, with habitat improvements, increased legal protection, and where appropriate, the re-introduction of captive bred animals it has been shown that Otter populations can be increased.

Up to date information on the status of the Otter in Italy was not readily available, the latest survey being Macdonald & Mason (1983) who found positive signs of Otters in only 16 out of 188 sites surveyed. The nearest site to Scarlino showing positive Otter populations was the Fiora river system south of the Scarlino site. According to Macdonald and Mason no evidence of Otters was found in the Ombrone river system that flows into the Maremma Nature Park immediately south of the Tioxide site. However, recent reports are more encouraging, claiming that Otters are present in the Maremma area and are probably increasing (Jepson 1994). A project to re-introduce the Otter to the Bolgheri Wildlife Reserve to the north of Scarlino is under consideration (Jepson 1994), animals being known from this site (Duffy 1982).

Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has been found near the site entrance and Fox (Vulpes vulpes) has been reported on the site by company employees. A dead Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), a road casualty, has been found near the works site and the animal could possibly occur on the company property. This species was introduced from Africa in Roman times and exists nowhere else in Europe apart from Italy and possibly northern Greece and adjacent Balkan States (Burton 1991, Pope 1983). Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is quite common in the area of the Montioni Landfill and Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) is also present but is apparently uncommon (see Section Montioni Landfill)