IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 39 Issue 4 (November 2022)

Citation: Pathak, R., Samal, A., Vegad, P., Zapadiya,V., Mohbatkhan-Bloch, F., and Monpariya, B. (2022). First Photographic Record of Smooth - Coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) from Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 39 (4): 236 - 240

Previous | Contents | Next

First Photographic Record of Smooth - Coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) from Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Rushi Pathak1, Aurobindo Samal2*, Pravin Vegad3, Vishal Zapadiya3, Firozkhan Mohbatkhan-Bloch3, and Bhagvanbhai Monpariya3

1Ancient Flora and Fauna Conservation Trust, Ahemdabad, Gujurat – 380058, India
2Earth Crusaders Organisation, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751019, India
3Guides of Velavadar National Park, Velavadar, Bhavanagar, Gujurat – 364313, India
*Corresponding Author Email: aurobindo.cse@gmail.com

Rushi Pathak Aurobindo Samal Pravin Vegad Vishal Zapadiya Firozkhan Mohbatkhan-Bloch Bhagvanbhai Monpariya

Download PDF (1 MB)

Abstract: Of the three species of otters found in India, the Smooth-coated otter is the only otter species found in the state of Gujarat. The authors photographed a Smooth-coated otter during field surveys by our team near the city of Bhavnagar in Saurashtra, a peninsular region of Gujarat on the western coast of India. After an extensive search of the area, the team also found tracks of a Smooth-coated otter. This photographic evidence is the first report of Smooth-coated otters in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Keywords:Smooth-coated otter, Bhavnagar, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Française | Español | ગુજરાતી | ଓଡିଆ

INTRODUCTION

The Smooth-coated otter is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Southwest China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo (Mason and Macdonald, 1986; Corbet and Hill, 1992). The Smooth-coated otter typically inhabits lakes, large rivers, dams, irrigation canals, swamps, shallow rice fields and coastal mangroves (Menon, 2003). Here we report the first photographic evidence of Smooth-coated otters from Saurashtra, Gujarat, India.

At 1300 hrs on 15<sup>th</sup> October 2022, during field work by the team near the city of Bhavnagar, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, while travelling near a temple close to a waterbody with a GPS coordinate of 22.0416033, 71.9727351 (Fig. 1), the team observed a short hairy mongoose shaped animal resting near agriculture land. A Nikon P1000 camera was used to capture images of the animal. It was later identified as a Smooth-coated otter (Fig. 2) by the corresponding author. The species had never before been reported at Saurashtra (Suthar, 2017).

Three images. One is a map of India showing the states. The position of Gujurat in the extreme east of India, bordering Pakistan is shown. The second map shows Gujurat state, with the sighting location near Bhavnagar in the south-central part of the state with the Gulf of Cambay to the east and Amreli district to the west. The main image is a satellite picture of fields, ponds and waterways, with a main waterway running vertically in the middle of the photo. Indirect sightings (pug marks) are shown at the top and bottom stretches of the waterway and the direct siting in the middle.
Figure 1. The indirect sign and rescue records of Eurasian otters obtained from Korba and Kathghora Forest Division of Chhattisgarh.

Good, clear close-up photo of the otter, lying on a river bank amongst grass and rushes. Its powerful build is clear, as is its body shape. Good, clear close-up photo of the otter, standing on the riverbank, facing the camera. The broad, leathery rhinarium, domed head, and strong webbed paws with claws are clear.
Figure 2. Smooth-coated otter photographed at Bhavnagar, Saurashtra.

After the identification of the species, the team surveyed the area for a week with different methods including a sign survey. From a questionnaire among locals regarding the species, the team learned that there is only one kind of otter they have noticed. We found tracks (Fig. 3) at two locations through a sign survey and believe that the tracks were from one individual otter.

Clear footprints of otter in mud, with a car key for size comparison. The tracks are of a large otter, with clear claws and indication of webbing.
Figure 3. Smooth-coated otter track in the vicinity of the observed otter.

This photographic evidence documents the presence of Smooth-coated otters in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, implying a new local distribution of Smooth-coated otters in Gujarat. Further studies on the species will be carried out with the support of the Forest Department, along with work to protect the species by conducting a threat assessment.

Acknowledgements: We are thankful to RFO Mr. Dilip Gadhvi and Forester Harpal Singh Chudasma of Velavadar National Park for their logistic support. We also thank Abhi Vyas, Jigar Patel for extended support during field work. We thank Earth Crusaders Organisation for helpful comments on the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Corbet, G.B., Hill, J.E. (1992). The mammals of the Indomalayan Region. A Systematic Review. Oxford University Press, U.K.
Mason, C.F., Macdonald, S.M. (1986). Otters: Ecology and Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, London.
Menon, V. (2003). A field guide to Indian mammals. Dorling Kindersley/Penguin, New Delhi, India.
Suthar, A.R., Rathod, J.Y., Patel, I.B., Gavali, D.J., Lakhmapurkar, J. (2017). Historical and current distribution of Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata in Gujarat, India: IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 34: 95-103. https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume34/Suthar_et_al_2017.html

Résumé: Premiers Enregistrements Photographiques de Loutres à Pelage Lisse (Lutrogale perspicillata) du Saurashtra, à Gujarat en Inde
La loutre eurasienne Lutra lutra est l’une des trois espèces de loutres que l’on trouve dans les rivi&egraParmi les trois espèces de loutres observées en Inde, la loutre à pelage lisse est la seule espèce de loutre trouvée dans l'état du Gujarat. Les auteurs ont photographié une loutre à pelage lisse, lors d'enquêtes de terrain menées par notre équipe, près de la ville de Bhavnagar à Saurashtra, une région péninsulaire du Gujarat située sur la côte ouest de l'Inde. Suite une recherche approfondie dans la région, l'équipe a également trouvé des traces d'une loutre à pelage lisse. Ce document photographique est la première observation de loutres à pelage lisse dans la région de Saurashtra au Gujarat..
Revenez au dessus

Resumen: Primer Registro Fotográfico de Nutrias Lisas (Lutrogale perpicillata) de Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
De las tres especies de nutria que se encuentran en India, la Nutria Lisa es la única especie que se encuentra en Gujarat. Los autores fotografiaron una Nutria Lisa durante relevamientos de campo en Bhavnagar, Saurashtra, en el estado occidental de Gujarat. Después de una búsqueda en áreas cercanas, también fueron observadas huellas de la Nutria Lisa. Esta es la primera evidencia fotográfica de Nutrias Lisas en la región de Saurashtra en Gujarat, India.
Vuelva a la tapa

સારાંશ – સૌરાષ્‍ટ્ર, ગુજરાત, ભારતથી સ્મૂથ - કોટેડ ઓટર્સ (લુટ્રા પર્સ્‍પિસીલાટા)નો પ્રથમ ફોટોગ્રાફિક રેકોર્ડ
ભારતમાં જળ માંજર / જલ બિલાડી (ઓટર) ની ત્રણ પ્રજાતિઓ જોવા મળે છે, જળ માંજર / જલ બિલાડી (સ્મૂથ કોટેડ ઓટર) એ એકમાત્ર જલ બિલાડી ની પ્રજાતિ છે જે ગુજરાતમાં જોવા મળે છે. ગુજરાતના ભાવનગર (સૌરાષ્ટ્ર) ખાતે અમારી ટીમ દ્વારા ક્ષેત્ર સર્વેક્ષણ દરમિયાન, લેખકોએ એક જળ માંજર / જલ બિલાડી (સ્મૂથ કોટેડ ઓટર)નો ફોટોગ્રાફ લીધો હતો. વ્યાપક ક્ષેત્રીય કાર્યો અને સંભવિત વિસ્તારોની શોધ કર્યા પછી, ટીમને જળ માંજર / જલ બિલાડી (સ્મૂથ કોટેડ ઓટર) ના પગમાર્ક મળ્યા. આ ફોટોગ્રાફિક પુરાવા ગુજરાતના સૌરાષ્ટ્ર પ્રદેશમાં જળ માંજર / જલ બિલાડી (સ્મૂથ કોટેડ ઓટર)ની હાજરીનો પ્રથમ અહેવાલ છે.
ଆରମ୍ଭକୁ ଫେରନ୍ତୁ

ସାରାଂଶ – ସୌରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ଗୁଜୁରାଟ ରେ ଦେଖାଯାଇଥିବା ପ୍ରଥମ ପାଣି ଓଧର ସ୍ଥିରଚିତ୍ର ର ବିବରଣ
ଭାରତରେ ସମୁଦାୟ ଭାବେ ତିନି ପ୍ରକାରର ପାଣି ଓଧ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳନ୍ତି । ମାତ୍ର ଭାରତ ର ଗୁଜୁରାଟ ପ୍ରଦେଶ ରେ କେବଳ ନରମ ଲୋମ ଯୁକ୍ତ ପାଣି ଓଧ ପ୍ରଜାତି ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳିଥାଏ । ଆମର ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଦଳ, ସୌରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ସ୍ଥିତ ଭାବନଗର ର ଏକ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରିବା ସମୟରେ, ଆମ ଦଳ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ କିଛି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଏକ ପାଣି ଓଧର ସ୍ଥିରଚିତ୍ର ଉତ୍ତୋଳନ କରିଥିଲେ । କିଛି ଦିନ ଉକ୍ତ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ନିୟମିତ ତଦାରଖ କରିବା ପରେ, ଆମକୁ ପାଣି ଓଧର ଖୋଜ ଚିହ୍ନ ମିଳିଥିଲା । ଉକ୍ତ ଅଭିଲେଖ ରୁ ଆମେ ପାଣି ଓଧର ନୂତନ ଅବସ୍ଥିତି ବିଷୟରେ ଉପନୀତ ହୋଇଥିଲୁ । ଉକ୍ତ ସ୍ଥିରଚିତ୍ର ତଥା ମିଳିଥିବା ଅନ୍ୟାନ୍ୟ ପ୍ରମାଣ, ପାଣି ଓଧର ସୌରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରରେ ନୂତନ ଅବସ୍ଥିତିକୁ ଦର୍ଶାଉଛି ।
ଆରମ୍ଭକୁ ଫେରନ୍ତୁ

Previous | Contents | Next