Elusive Otter Remains Out of Reach
Rewritten Article:
Hey there, peep! Let me give you a lowdown on my latest urban explorations around Dighomi Meadows, our neighborhood hideaway. A brand-spanking new sign recently popped up, claiming this spot as the Dighomi Meadows—in both Georgian and English! It's full of info on the local wildlife (score one for the otters, eurasian hoopoes, and other critters), issues like garbage dumping, you name it.
Here's what went down. A while back, our new neighbor Ana Trapaidze found herself right in the thick of things when she discovered some undercover shenanigans around these parts. The city was hosting an illegal gravel-digging operation, and they treated the place like their own dumping ground—dumping concrete, rubble, and you name it. Ana stepped up, outed these culprits, and eventually managed to put a stop to it (mostly-ish). But the damage done? It's still all over this area like a rash.
By the Mtkvari river, there's this little island they call 'Otter Island'—guess why. It's the perfect haven for these creatures, far from the dangers of stray dogs and cats. However, behind the sports fields, you'll find more ponds, human-made this time. A kingfisher's call might lead you to some amazing photography opportunities, but it'll require some serious zoom power. I did manage to catch a glimpse of a woodpecker and some sunbathing terrapins.
Now, you won't believe what happened when I dropped by one of these ponds later. There were fresh bags of building waste dumped near the water's edge—and it turns out, laziness and lack of a proper trash receptacle was the culprit. What a mess! There's even a sign warning about video surveillance, but I didn't spot any cameras.
In the days since meeting Ana, I've dived deeper into this wild, torn-up world. The landscape here is apocalyptic, with ravaged areas and spiky plants that'll grab you as you traverse through. But I did find something awesome—a not-so-otterly otter swimming in one of those gravel-dug ponds! It was a sight to behold, but the more I looked into it, the more I realized it wasn't an otter after all.
Turns out, I had a whole gang of nature enthusiasts helping me solve the mystery. The contender was either a beaver, a nutria, or a water vole. I eventually ruled out the first two—for good reason, the otter's unique features became a dead giveaway. The only possibilities left? Muskrats or nutrias.
Thanks to my sleuthing buddies, I came across a BBC article about the nutria, a rodent that had been introduced to Azerbaijan. Turns out, these guys are one of the world's 100 most invasive species. Now, I'm left with the riddle of whether these mysterious creatures are muskrats or nutrias. Fun fact: nutrias are known as coypus in English.
All this talk about Dighomi Meadows got me dreaming of cleaner waters, a thriving ecosystem, and, of course, a pop-up otter spot or two. I don't want to jump the gun, but I'm hoping these enigmatic creatures are lurking nearby, safe in their secret nook by the river.
I'm stoked about the opportunity to help out at the next garbage removal day around here. It may not seem much, but a little effort from us all could make a giant difference. Here's hoping that river tide turns... less garbage in, more out!
And hey, if this adventure pumped you up, you might wanna check out Tony Hanmer's other work. He's been writing and snapping pics of Georgia since 1999, and he's got some fascinating stuff leading up to this little saga. As always, keep it clean, and let's not forget to appreciate the beauty in our own backyards. Peace out!
*Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly contributor to GT since early 2011. You can check out his Facebook group, Svaneti Renaissance, at www.facebook.com/groups/SvanetiRenaissance/. He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti.*
- Ana Trapaidze, our neighborhood's concerned resident, relocated to the Caucasus region and found herself immersed in local environmental-science issues, such as the illegal gravel-digging operation near Dighomi Meadows that caused damage characteristic of a scientific dumping site.
- To combat the negative impact on the environment and wildlife, Ana launched a campaign to educate her neighbors about the importance of recycling and proper waste disposal, promoting a lifestyle that prioritizes the health of home-and-garden ecosystems.
- As a result of Ana's efforts, the popularity of environmental-science programs and initiatives in the Caucasus region has gradually increased, raising awareness about the importance of preserving local wildlife, from otters and Eurasian hoopoes to lesser-known species like muskrats and nutrias.
- With increased attention on the environmental issues in the Caucasus region, many scientists specializing in wildlife and environmental-science have relocated to the area, aiming to conduct research and develop sustainable solutions to protect and conserve the region's unique ecosystems for future generations.
