The wetlands inhabited by the southern river otter Lontra provocax in Chile are subject to anthropogenic disturbances. As a result of the modification and destruction of its habitat, caused by loss of riparian vegetation, and other threats, the species is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We monitored the river otter and its diet during September 2020–January 2021 in a swamp forest fragment in southern Chile. We obtained evidence of river otter presence from the upper part of the wetland to the confluence with the Bueno River, suggesting inter-population connectivity of the species in an extensive hydrographic basin. Faeces and food remains showed a predominance of native macrocrustaceans, with introduced fish present at lower levels. The detection of the southern river otter in a fragment of threatened swamp forest suggests a low abundance in environmentally degraded freshwater environments. The identification of subpopulations such as the one reported here provides valuable data to support the conservation of the species in threatened wetlands.

The Critically Endangered western lowland gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla is found at high density in the swamp forests of Lac Télé Community Reserve, northern Republic of Congo. Preliminary surveys for apes on the Reserve periphery in the 1990s indicated that this area may also contain high densities of apes and we wished to verify this. Using distance sampling methodology we surveyed 1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests. We recorded 1,021 ape nests along 21 2-km transects. Results indicated that ape density estimated from nest group density, excluding old and very old Raphia nests (which may decay slowly), was very high: 6.81 weaned apes km-2 (95% confidence interval 3.93–11.84). Gorillas built most of the nests recorded: their density was estimated at 5.25 individuals km-2 (2.70–10.19). Most nests were constructed in Raphia swamp forest despite it covering only 25% of the study area. These are among the highest recorded densities of apes in Central Africa but, as nest decay rates in swamps are unstudied, we also estimated densities based on hypothetically slow nest decay rates and published data from other habitats. Gorilla densities may be linked to availability of monocotyledons as food and the natural protection from hunting offered by Raphia swamps. Gorilla density in swamp forest is spatially and temporally variable and surveys are required to estimate ape populations elsewhere in this habitat. Most Raphia swamps in Congo are unprotected, including the periphery of Lac Télé Community Reserve; protection and management are required to assure their continued availability for apes.

Three incidental sightings of the flat-headed cat Pnonailurus planiceps, a little-known species, were made in south-east Sumatra. Sightings were on lowland floodplains in two distinct habitats, primary peat swamp forest and secondary lowland forest, the latter suggesting some tolerance to modified habitats. Sightings were along or near waterways. A dead adult male found in Berbak National Park is the first confirmed record for the park. Morphometrics of this individual were consistent with other published measurements for the species. Museum specimens indicate a wide historic distribution in south-east Sumatra. Recent information confirms the species's presence in protected areas of eastern, southern and western Sumatra, although this is mostly limited to presence/absence data, and the conservation status and habitat requirements of the species in south-east Sumatra are unknown. Regional degradation of riparian habitats and the isolation of protected areas warrant concern for the conservation status of the species.