Rare sighting of Eurasian otters enthuses wildlife buffs

Eurasian otters--thought to be extinct since the past three to four decades-- have been sighted again. The reappearance has rekindled the hope of their revival. Eurasian otters, locally known as Vuder, are indicators of high quality aquatic habitat and are flagship species.
In the past three years, there have been five-six sightings of these otters in the rivers and streams in Gurez north Kashmir, Srigufwara South Kashmir and Herpora Wildlife sanctuary in Shopian south Kashmir.
Eurasian otters, locally known as Vuder, are indicators of high quality aquatic habitat and are flagship species.
Earlier this month, the villagers at Srigufwara sighted an animal in the water which they thought was crocodile. Since Kashmir and its climatic conditions aren't feasible for crocodiles, wildlife teams began search in the Srigufwara area along the banks of Lider river. They installed camera traps and after days, they came to conclusion that it was a eurasian otter, not a crocodile.
Sohail Wagay, wildlife warden in south Kashmir said that villagers had sighted an otter in stream of Srigufwara. 'We have had many sightings of otters in Kashmir in the last few years,' Wagay added.
The Eurasian otters which prefer cold water streams were sighted first in Tarabal area of Gurez in a stream by wildlife officials, who had installed cameras in the area which is close to Line of Control in the Indus river.
The otters were sighted again this year in Dawar Gurez even though many villagers shared videos of otters. More sightings were reported from Hirpora wildlife sanctuary and now in Srigufwara south Kashmir, which is strong indication that otters are back in the Valley and experts say the frequent or regular sightings indicate that they are getting favourable ecosystems and freshwater habitats across Valley.
Jalal Jeelani, an environmental expert and film maker, said the sightings of otters in Kashmir is a very encouraging sign about revival of our water bodies. 'There have been frequent sightings of Eurasian otters in Kashmir, both in northern and southern parts of the Valley. These sightings, after decades, indicate that our water bodies are turning to be good habitat for the species which was once found in good numbers in Kashmir but with the passage of time and human interference became extinct,' he said adding the reappearance of otters in the wetlands and waters of Kashmir is nothing short of a delightful and hopeful development.
'These elusive and graceful creatures, long absent or rarely seen, are slowly reclaiming their place in the region's aquatic ecosystems. Back in 2016, while filming the documentary 'Saving The Saviour' at Wular Lake, local fishermen and residents spoke of a mysterious creature preying on their ducks and swans. Most assumed it to be jackals, foxes, or stray dogs. But some hinted at fleeting sightings of otters along the lake's peripheries. At the time, it remained a matter of speculation. Today, with more frequent otter sightings, it seems those early suspicions were right. These semi-aquatic mammals, once dwindling in number, appear to be making a quiet comeback.'
He said that since the devastating floods of 2014, Kashmir's rivers, streams, and glacial feeders have been flowing with better consistency and volume. 'This resurgence in water flow may have played a crucial role in restoring habitat conditions suitable for otters to thrive. Their presence reminds us of the importance of preserving natural habitats and maintaining ecological flow.'
Dr Bilal Ahmad, who has served in Gurez, and is an expert in agricultural and mountain environment said that there were sightings of otters in rivers and streams of Gurez since 2023. 'Many people made claims of these sightings. Even wildlife department got evidence in camera traps. Usually Gurez has good ecosystem and environment that's the reason these otters could have thrived in the region,' he said, for any species survival depends on less human interference and good habitat. 'Gurez has both of these things for otters and other rare species like Musk deer. Similarly, the other parts of Kashmir too where the otters are sighted has good environs and habitat.'

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Hindustan Times

2 days ago

• Hindustan Times

Rare sighting of Eurasian otters enthuses wildlife buffs

Eurasian otters--thought to be extinct since the past three to four decades-- have been sighted again. The reappearance has rekindled the hope of their revival. Eurasian otters, locally known as Vuder, are indicators of high quality aquatic habitat and are flagship species. In the past three years, there have been five-six sightings of these otters in the rivers and streams in Gurez north Kashmir, Srigufwara South Kashmir and Herpora Wildlife sanctuary in Shopian south Kashmir. Eurasian otters, locally known as Vuder, are indicators of high quality aquatic habitat and are flagship species. Earlier this month, the villagers at Srigufwara sighted an animal in the water which they thought was crocodile. Since Kashmir and its climatic conditions aren't feasible for crocodiles, wildlife teams began search in the Srigufwara area along the banks of Lider river. They installed camera traps and after days, they came to conclusion that it was a eurasian otter, not a crocodile. Sohail Wagay, wildlife warden in south Kashmir said that villagers had sighted an otter in stream of Srigufwara. 'We have had many sightings of otters in Kashmir in the last few years,' Wagay added. The Eurasian otters which prefer cold water streams were sighted first in Tarabal area of Gurez in a stream by wildlife officials, who had installed cameras in the area which is close to Line of Control in the Indus river. The otters were sighted again this year in Dawar Gurez even though many villagers shared videos of otters. More sightings were reported from Hirpora wildlife sanctuary and now in Srigufwara south Kashmir, which is strong indication that otters are back in the Valley and experts say the frequent or regular sightings indicate that they are getting favourable ecosystems and freshwater habitats across Valley. Jalal Jeelani, an environmental expert and film maker, said the sightings of otters in Kashmir is a very encouraging sign about revival of our water bodies. 'There have been frequent sightings of Eurasian otters in Kashmir, both in northern and southern parts of the Valley. These sightings, after decades, indicate that our water bodies are turning to be good habitat for the species which was once found in good numbers in Kashmir but with the passage of time and human interference became extinct,' he said adding the reappearance of otters in the wetlands and waters of Kashmir is nothing short of a delightful and hopeful development. 'These elusive and graceful creatures, long absent or rarely seen, are slowly reclaiming their place in the region's aquatic ecosystems. Back in 2016, while filming the documentary 'Saving The Saviour' at Wular Lake, local fishermen and residents spoke of a mysterious creature preying on their ducks and swans. Most assumed it to be jackals, foxes, or stray dogs. But some hinted at fleeting sightings of otters along the lake's peripheries. At the time, it remained a matter of speculation. Today, with more frequent otter sightings, it seems those early suspicions were right. These semi-aquatic mammals, once dwindling in number, appear to be making a quiet comeback.' He said that since the devastating floods of 2014, Kashmir's rivers, streams, and glacial feeders have been flowing with better consistency and volume. 'This resurgence in water flow may have played a crucial role in restoring habitat conditions suitable for otters to thrive. Their presence reminds us of the importance of preserving natural habitats and maintaining ecological flow.' Dr Bilal Ahmad, who has served in Gurez, and is an expert in agricultural and mountain environment said that there were sightings of otters in rivers and streams of Gurez since 2023. 'Many people made claims of these sightings. Even wildlife department got evidence in camera traps. Usually Gurez has good ecosystem and environment that's the reason these otters could have thrived in the region,' he said, for any species survival depends on less human interference and good habitat. 'Gurez has both of these things for otters and other rare species like Musk deer. Similarly, the other parts of Kashmir too where the otters are sighted has good environs and habitat.'

Indian Express

11-06-2025

• Indian Express

Thought to be extinct, a rare sighting in Kashmir revives hopes of the Eurasian otter's comeback

For three decades, the Eurasian otter, once an integral part of Kashmir's aquatic ecosystem, was thought to be extinct in the Valley. However, a rare sighting of the semi-aquatic mammal has now been reported in south Kashmir. The otter, which has been globally classified as 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was spotted in the Lidder River in Srigufwara, south Kashmir. While villagers initially thought it was a crocodile, wildlife officials identified it as an Eurasian otter after watching videos captured by the villagers. That was later confirmed through photographic evidence. 'It has been confirmed as Eurasian otter,' Suhail Ahmad Wagar, the Wildlife Warden for south Kashmir, told The Indian Express. 'After it was reported, we set up CCTV surveillance, and we have captured it (on camera) at a few places.' The Eurasian otter, locally known as Vuder, was an integral part of Kashmir's aquatic ecosystem and was abundantly found in the water bodies. Its presence was used to scare the children and keep them away from the water bodies. However, over the last three decades, it was not spotted in the water bodies of the Valley, and it was thought to be extinct in Kashmir. The sudden decline in otters, a carnivorous mammal that feeds on fish and other aquatic fauna, was attributed to increased water pollution and hunting of the mammal for its fur. 'Historical records suggest that Kashmir had a substantial otter population in Dachigam and the stream that fed the Dal lake. It was also commonly seen in Rambiara stream (in south Kashmir) and the Lidder river (in Pahalgam),' Wagay said. 'However, it was not spotted for the last 25-30 years, so we thought it had gone extinct (in Kashmir).' Wildlife officials say that this is the third occasion this year that it has been spotted in the Valley. 'In May, it was first spotted in the Gurez valley,' Wagay said. 'It was also spotted in Heerpora (in south Kashmir's Shopian district).' Wildlife officials say that the sighting of the mammal is encouraging and could help restore Kashmir's aquatic ecology. Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More

Time of India

08-06-2025

• Time of India

MSU professor invited to international museum summit

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