Resurgence of the Eurasian otter: A Beacon for Kashmir’s Freshwater Ecosystem Revival

Hugam, Kashmir (indian-administered) – On a crisp summer evening, 17-year-old Nasir Amin Bhat stepped cautiously into the shallow waters of a tributary when his companion Adil Ahmad suddenly shouted from the riverbank.

“Hold on! Something’s moving in the water,” Adil alerted urgently.

In the chilly currents of the lidder River near Hugam village,tucked within Anantnag district,a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) surfaced and paddled energetically against the stream using all four limbs.

Bhat,initially uncertain about what he was witnessing,quickly pulled out his smartphone to capture footage. The brief nine-second video reveals this sleek mammal-classified as “near threatened” by IUCN-gliding onto shore before vanishing behind thick vegetation.

A Promising Sign Amidst Environmental Struggles

The Eurasian otter had been considered locally extinct for decades. yet since early 2023, wildlife authorities have recorded sightings of three individuals at two separate sites across Kashmir. This unexpected return has ignited hope among ecologists aiming to restore vulnerable Himalayan freshwater ecosystems severely impacted by climate shifts and human interference.

Freshwater Health Reflected Through Otter Presence

Nisarg Prakash, an Indian wildlife biologist with expertise in otters across southern India, views these observations as encouraging indicators that aquatic habitats might be improving. “Their comeback coudl signal successful anti-poaching efforts or habitat rehabilitation-or possibly both,” he suggests.

Eurasian otters historically ranged widely throughout northern India-from Himalayan foothills through Gangetic plains to northeastern wetlands-and enjoy protection under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. Recent IUCN assessments confirm their presence not onyl along Lidder but also within Jehlum valleys and Wular Lake-the latter spanning over 200 square kilometers and ranking among Asia’s largest freshwater lakes.

The Toll of Habitat Disruption on Otters

Despite their former widespread distribution, populations declined sharply due to pollution and habitat fragmentation caused by expanding settlements and infrastructure projects such as hydroelectric dams. Khursheed Ahmad from Sher-e-Kashmir University explains how increasing human encroachment pushed these semi-aquatic mammals into isolated pockets inaccessible to people. “Though never fully wiped out,” he notes,”otters became elusive with very few confirmed sightings.”

A rare encounter occurred less then two years ago during musk deer fieldwork near Gurez valley at elevations above 2,600 meters (8,530 feet). Two otters were documented close to Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project-a controversial site following international disputes between India and Pakistan-marking one of the highest altitude records for this species locally.

This finding spurred enhanced monitoring; however ongoing disturbances like fishing activities combined with paramilitary presence have limited further documentation on indian-administered territory so far.

mixed Reactions Among Local Residents

The agricultural community around Hugam-home to approximately 300 families-is responding with cautious curiosity toward these new aquatic neighbors. Muneera Bano recalls washing clothes daily along riverbanks she now avoids after learning about otters sheltering beneath willow-lined tributaries roughly 58 kilometers south of Srinagar city.

“When it surfaces at dawn,” she shares,”crows raise loud alarms-I’m too frightened now even to get close.”

Bhat admits that after recording the video he no longer feels cozy swimming or fishing there-a stark contrast from earlier carefree days spent enjoying those waters freely. Initial rumors mistook this animal for a crocodile until camera traps confirmed it was indeed an Eurasian otter; local officials even bathed publicly alongside elders reassuring villagers that these creatures pose no real threat unless provoked closely by humans.

Understanding Otter Behavior: Insights From Specialists

• Eurasian otters are mostly crepuscular but can be active during daylight hours;
• Their diet primarily consists of native fish species found in cold mountain streams;
• Dens are typically located near riverbanks covered with dense vegetation;
• They serve as sensitive bioindicators reflecting overall ecosystem health due to dependence on clean water bodies;
• Their playful nature ofen fascinates observers during dawn or dusk when they hunt fish or occasionally small waterfowl;

Cultural Heritage Meets Conservation Hopes

Kashmiri farmer Wasim Ahmad reminisces about childhood memories from early ’90s when encounters with poachers hunting animals including cats and otters were common around Doodhganga tributary:

“Our elders warned children saying ‘otters would snatch kids,’ though nobody was ever harmed-it was just folklore meant as caution.”

This conventional knowledge contrasts sharply with today’s stricter enforcement under wildlife protection laws which have significantly reduced illegal hunting over recent decades.

The reappearance signals potential ecological recovery if ongoing threats such as pollution accumulation remain controlled.
“Safeguarding newly restored habitats against unchecked waste disposal,” stresses Khursheed ahmad,”, alongside reducing carbon emissions will be crucial steps toward securing lasting futures both for local communities ⁤and biodiversity alike.”