Eurasian otters find their way home in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 28: Kashmirís otters are swimming home again.

Seen steadily for five years, the Near Threatened Eurasian otterís return signals healing rivers and wilderness reclaiming its place in Kashmir.

The Eurasian otter, once believed to have disappeared from Jammu and Kashmir, has been recorded regularly across Kashmir over the past five years, with the latest confirmed sighting coming from the Sindh River in Ganderbal district.

The most recent photographic evidence was captured this week by Forest Department Range Officer for Manazbal, Mir Faizan Anwar, near Gutlibagh, Ganderbal, adding to a growing body of visual and camera-trap records that indicate the species has re-established itself in several river systems.

ìI was photographing birds around 10 am on Wednesday. I noticed the animal swimming briefly in the canal before it disappeared into deeper waters,î Anwar said. ìIt was alert and clearly avoided human presence, which suggests natural and undisturbed behaviour.î

Chief Conservator of Forests, Irfan Rasool, confirmed the sighting, calling it an important addition to the expanding record of otter presence in Kashmir.

ìThis capture marks the first direct photographic evidence of the Eurasian otter from Sindh Nallah,î Rasool posted on his social media account. ìEarlier, camera-trap records had already confirmed otter presence in Kishanganga and Rambiara Nallah. This new evidence strengthens and extends confirmation of the speciesí continued presence in the Valley.î

Wildlife officials described the sightings as a positive sign for Kashmirís fragile freshwater ecosystems, pointing out that otters were apex predators and key indicators of ecological health.

ìOtters are critical indicators of river health, and this is the indicator of clean water bodies,î Wildlife Warden, Central Kashmir, Parvez Wani, said. ìTheir presence suggests the aquatic habitat remains relatively intact and capable of supporting a viable fish population.î

Wani said that they had installed cameras to document their presence.

Wildlife officials said sightings of the semi-aquatic mammal have been reported consistently since around 2020 from the Chenab River, the Rambiara stream in Shopian, the glacier-fed Gurez Valley in Bandipora, and the Lidder River near Srigufwara in Anantnag district.

ìFrom 2010 to 2019, we had only indirect evidence such as fish remains, and tracks, but no photographic proof,î wildlife researcher and Warden with the Department of Wildlife Protection, north Kashmir, Suhail Intesar said. ìOver the past 5 years, camera traps and direct sightings have been reported regularly.î

Intesar said the species survived in remote, glacier-fed streams where food was abundant and human interference minimal.

ìThe otter persisted in high-altitude areas where trout populations are healthy,î he said. ìNow we are seeing it gradually reoccupy multiple river systems.î

Locally known as Wuddar, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is listed as ìNear Threatenedî by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss, pollution, and illegal hunting.

In India, the species is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Historically, the species inhabited Dal Lake, Wular Lake, the Jhelum River, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary in Shopian, Dachigam National Park near Srinagar, and the Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in Pahalgam.

But sightings declined sharply in the late 1990s and early 2000s as pollution, sewage discharge, and unregulated construction degraded aquatic habitats.

ìFrom 1993 to 1995, otters were a common feature in Dal Lake,î Intesar said. ìBut increasing sewage and pollution disturbed the ecosystem and drove them out of lowland water bodies.î

Once extensively hunted for its thick, waterproof fur, the Eurasian otter suffered dramatic population declines across much of Asia.

The species feeds mainly on fish and other aquatic fauna like frogs and typically builds dens, known as holts, along clean, well-vegetated riverbanks.

ìOtters are completely harmless to humans and should not cause alarm,î Wani said. ìThe real threat comes from destructive fishing practices such as the use of chemicals or electric shocks, which severely damage river ecosystems.î

Officials said negative perceptions among fishermen particularly in commercial fishing zones like Wular, Dal, and Manasbal lakes also contributed to the speciesí decline, as otters were long viewed as competitors for fish.

Conservationists say the regular sightings emphasise the need to protect Kashmirís riverine habitats to ensure the speciesí long-term survival.

ìKashmirís rivers are of immense ecological significance,î Rasool said. ìIf we protect these habitats, the otterís return can become a lasting success story rather than a temporary recovery.î