A Long Lost Species in the Conservation Domain: The Otter

I have not yet been fortunate to behold an otter in the wild. But learning about them from books and articles has passionately engaged me with them. I love watching their antics on internet videos, playing on the banks of rivers, or juggling small stones. The moment they emerge from deep water with a fish in their mouth is captivating. But these beautiful creatures are now suffering the consequences of human disturbance and face many threats in their natural habitat, the rivers, and the wetlands of Nepal.

Three species of otters inhabit our wetlands: the Eurasian otter, Smooth-coated otter, and Small-clawed otter. Otters are medium-sized fish-eating mammals. The Small-clawed otter has not been sighted in decades, and the Eurasian and Smooth-coated otters are sparsely populated. Most of their populations are concentrated inside parks and other protected areas. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists both of these species as Near Threatened and Vulnerable respectively.

Map of otter distribution in Nepal (Source: USAID/WWF Nepal, 2020)

Otter species are perhaps more threatened in Nepal from development than elsewhere, especially from dam construction for electricity and irrigation and destructive sand and stone mining, as well as escalating threats of global climate change. Additionally, the illegal trade in wildlife, water pollution, and unsustainable fishing are considered to be profound factors affecting the well-being of otters.  Their future may face chaos and uncertainty. Conservation measures are urgently needed to defy these threats, including comprehensive research on the status of otter populations.  So far, almost no information is available on otters in Nepal, which has further limited their conservation. Research on otters is itself a challenging task as these animals are shy, elusive, nocturnal, and extremely difficult to locate in their natural habitat. Till now, most of our research techniques on otters are largely based on indirect evidence, the study of their spraint, tracks, and reports from villagers and fishermen. But this trend needs to be transcended and scientific and convincing research techniques must be wisely utilized, such as camera trapping and e-DNA analysis so as to understand the in-depth ecological characteristics and genetics of the species.

For instance, otters are now no more seen in the Narayani River, and on that premises, conservationists have concluded that they are extirpated from the river, but definitive evidence is lacking. Recent sightings of Dolphins in the Narayan River suggest that otters may still be able to live there, but surveys are needed to confirm their presence.

Fishing nets entangled in the scat of otter

Few people are aware of the presence of otters in the rivers and lakes of Nepal. Crucial environmental issues such as climate change and conservation of flagship species draw enormous attention from the people, media, and problem solvers, while the concern over small mammals such as otters is dimmer. The National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 of Nepal provides legal protection to 27 species of mammals but does not protect otters. The Aquatic Animal Conservation Act of 1960 gives some protection to aquatic species, including otters, from illegal killing and capture, but has not been effective in curbing the prevalent threats to otters.  

 Humans and otters share a common natural resource of water. Conservation programs that exclude the needs of human communities cannot help conserve otters. To truly ensure a sustainable solution for otter survival in the wild, the needs and concerns of local people must be integrated into any conservation strategy. Local people must be involved in the stewardship of otters and their habitat. Raising awareness and knowledge among people needs to be promoted to reduce the risk of illegal killing and trade of otters. Otherwise, we will not succeed in conserving otters in the wild rivers of Nepal. Apart from this, strengthening the legal protection, research, and regular monitoring, pragmatic implementation of realistic EIA reports, promoting the practice of sustainable fishing, and banning direct disposal of sewage and waste into the river are crucial steps urgently needed for otter conservation in Nepal.

Despite the challenges, there are now some positive initiatives for the protection of otters in Nepal. Otter species have reappeared in historical habitats and some of the new places as well. Rama Mishra has sighted otters in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, long considered to have lost its otters. Otter researchers are extremely excited about this first sighting of otters in the eastern part of the country after a decade-long gap. Eurasian otters seemed to be lost from the country for 30 years until a recent sighting by Mohan Bikram Shrestha and his team in the Sani Bheri and Utter Ganga Rivers in Rukum West. A recent initiative, the Nepal Otter Action Plan, is lauded as an encouraging step in guiding otter conservation. For this initiative, otter surveys exploring the status and distribution of otters across the country are providing a new understanding of the status of otters.

A research team from the Nepal Otter Action Plan is setting up a camera trap for a Eurasian Otter survey in the Tadi River of Nuwakot District.

We must make certain that these charismatic and valuable creatures do not slip through our hands into oblivion. A growing number of young enthusiastic researchers, ecologists, and conservationists dedicated to otter research and conservation is kindling hope for an optimistic future for otter conservation in our country. I hope this World Otter Day on May 25th may bring awareness and positive action in securing and building a safer place for otters in Nepal.