Hankensbüttel Otter Centre

About

The Hankensbüttel Otter Centre is a nature experience centre in Hankensbüttel, in the German district of Gifhorn, that is laid out in 6 hectares (15 acres) of open land by a lake known as the Isenhagener See. The Otter Centre showcases the European otter which is a species threatened by extinction, as well as several related species of marten, in a natural environment. The centre is run by the Aktion Fischotterschutz ("Otter Conservation Project"), a state-recognised nature conservation organisation, and is a popular tourist and visitor destination on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath.

The Otter Centre originated in the Fischotter-Forschungsgehege Oderhaus ("Oderhaus Otter Research Station") which the Lower Saxon Forestry Commission established in 1979 near Sankt Andreasberg in the Harz mountains. Claus Reuther, an official of the Forestry Commission, played a leading role, setting up the Aktion Fischotterschutz in Braunlage in 1979 which took part in the scientific investigation programme. When the project ended in 1986 the group conceived the idea for an otter centre, which was opened in Hankensbüttel in 1988. As a result, it changed from an otter conservation group into a state-recognised nature conservation organisation. The instigator of the Otter Centre was Claus Reuther who became its head from the outset. The facility suffered a setback in 1993 when there was a serious fire in the main building. Reuther was accused of causing the fire but was cleared by the court in 1995. He died in 2004.

The Otter Conservation Project and Hankensbüttel Otter Centre have won many prestigious national and international awards and prizes for their conservation work including:

- The World Wildlife Fund "Award for Conservation Merit" presented by Prince Philip in 1982

- The "Emmy and Karl Kaus Prize for Animal Conservation" in 1987

- The Nature Conservation Prize from the German Hunting Federation in 1990

- An "Honourable Mention" as part of the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1990

- The Lower Saxony Prize for Contributions to Nature and Hunting in 1992

- An Honorary Certificate for Project Otter Centre as part of the European Environment Prize in 1992

- The Brauerei Feldschlößchen Nature Conservation Prize for the ISE project in 1999

- 1st Prize in the "Regions of the Future" competition run by the German Ministry of Transport in 2000

- Its "Regional Training Centre for Sustainable REBINA" selected as an official project in the "Creation of Sustainable Development 2005-2014" world decade by the German UNESCO Commission in 2005

- Selected as one of the 365 places in the national initiative "Germany - Land of Ideas" in 2006 supported by the German Cabinet and the Confederation of German Industry ( Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie ) (BDI) and came under the patronage of the Bundespräsident, Horst Köhler. Out of 1,200 applications it won the opportunity to be presented as part of the initiative at the 2006 Football World Cup to national and international audiences.

- Its research and development plan "Creation of Sustainable Development - Positioning of Nature Conservation" selected as an official project in the "Creation of Sustainable Development 2005-2014" world decade by the German UNESCO Commission in 2007.

The Otter Conservation Project and Hankensbüttel Otter Centre have won many prestigious national and international awards and prizes for their conservation work including:

- The World Wildlife Fund "Award for Conservation Merit" presented by Prince Philip in 1982

- The "Emmy and Karl Kaus Prize for Animal Conservation" in 1987

- The Nature Conservation Prize from the German Hunting Federation in 1990

- An "Honourable Mention" as part of the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1990

- The Lower Saxony Prize for Contributions to Nature and Hunting in 1992