This book represents the result of a Range-Wide Priority Setting (RWPS) Exercise applied to assess the distribution and conservation status of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) across its range. For this exercise, an in-person workshop was held in 2018 in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, bringing together a group of specialists to organize all available information on the species, currently dispersed across different sources, and translate it into a conservation strategy. One of the outcomes of this exercise is the definition of Giant Otter Priority Conservation Units (GOPCUs), considering threats, distribution, relative abundance, and other potentially important factors. Thus, the GOPCUs represent specific sites for long-term conservation investment in giant otters, as well as studies and population monitoring on behavior, reproduction, and distribution.

This giant otter RWPS book is organized into 17 chapters: an introduction chapter, then a chapter covering general knowledge about the species, followed by a chapter which presents the methodology applied. The next twelve chapters summarize information about giant otters and report on the exercise conducted for each of the countries of current and historical species occurrence, and the final two chapters address, respectively, the results, and the discussion, as well as recommendations related to the RWPS exercise. We hope that this RWPS document will guide the actions and strategies for giant otter conservation more efficiently and effectively among all key stakeholders involved.