Rare Eurasian otters resurface in Kashmir Valley

Once believed to have almost vanished, the Eurasian otters have resurfaced in the Valley of Kashmir over the last 3 years. The species was recently sighted in Gurez Valley, some 123 kms north of Srinagar.

The video of the species showed otters feasting on fish in gurgling Kishangana river, which flows through the placid Valley. Released into digital sphere by a Gurez resident on January 27, the footage attracted much attention of wildlife watchers.

First live record

According to experts, the video is significant as it is the first live record of the species.

“It represents first live documentation of the species for the last 25 years,” Intesar Suhail, Wildlife Warden told businessline.

He said the otters had almost never been photographed in Kashmir.

“The sightings have become rare in recent years with none reported outside the Gurez Valley,” said the wildlife warden.

According to him, in late nineties, the otters were commonly seen in rivers and streams across Kashmir.

“In 1997, I have spotted them in the back waters of famous Dal Lake,” said the official. He said that since then the sighting had become very rare.

The Eurasian otters locally known as Vodur belongs to Mustelidae family and inhabits semi-aquatic environments. The species feeds on fish and is responsible for maintaining healthy ecosystem.

Over the last three decades, the population of otters dwindled significantly. Habitat loss, use of pesticides and poaching contributed to the declining population of otters across Jammu and Kashmir.

The International Union for conservation of Nature ( IUNC) listed the Eurasian otters as near threatened on its red list in 2004 and 2008.

The official, however, said that it would not be appropriate, as recently reported by a section of press, to say that the species was extinct.

“Over the last two to three years, the otters have been sighted in Gurez Valley,” he said.

In 2023, camera traps captured an otter in Gurez and the finding was published in IUNC/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin by a joint team group of researchers from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology ( SKUAST) Kashmir and Aligarh Muslim University.