IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 42 Issue 1 (January 2025)

Citation: Bida, Y.B. and Rai, M. (2025). Photographic Record of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42 (1): 9 – 13

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Photographic Record of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Yumlam Benjamin Bida1,2 * and Manoj Rai1

1Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Regional Office Eastern Himalaya-Northeast India, NH 10, Tadong-737102, East Sikkim, India.
2North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (deemed to be University), Department of Forestry, Nirjuli-791109, Arunachal Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author Email: benjamin.bida@atree.org

Yumlam Benjamin Bida, clean shaven, with short hair, wearing a checked shirt and padded gilet, holding a camera and leaning on a tree in a forest. Manoj Rai, cleanshaven, with very short hair, wearing a forage cap and shirt, and looking through a video camera viewfinder, in a forest.

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Received 6th August 2024, accepted 5th October 2024

Abstract: Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) are classified as near threatened by the IUCN and listed under Appendix I of CITES. Despite their widespread distribution across India, documentation remains sparse. In Arunachal Pradesh, all three otter species - Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), and Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) - are present, but information on their distribution is limited. Notably, Eurasian otter sightings in Arunachal Pradesh have primarily been from western regions. This study presents the first photographic evidence of a Eurasian otter in the eastern region of Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha Tiger Reserve.
Keywords: Eurasian otter (lutra lutra), Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

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INTRODUCTION

Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN and are under Appendix I of CITES (Loy et al., 2022). Although they are widely distributed across India, inhabiting a variety of habitat such as lakes, rivers, streams, rivers, swamps, coastal area and estuaries, their presence is poorly documented (North India - Pal et al., 2021, Jamwal et al., 2016; Central India - Jena et al., 2016, Joshi et al., 2016, Uikey, 2021, Suraj et al. 2022; Western Ghats- Mudappa et al., 2018; Eastern Ghats- Adhya and Dey, 2020; North-east India - Bhattacharya et al., 2019, Khatiwara and Bhutia, 2020, Borker et al., 2022). In Arunachal Pradesh, all three otter species -Eurasian otters, Smooth-coated otters, and Asian Small-clawed otters - have been documented (Borker et al., 2022). However, published information on their distribution is scarce. While Eurasian otters have been recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, most sightings are from the western parts of the state (Bhattacharya et al., 2019; Borker et al., 2022). The present sighting from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, therefore,  marks the first photographic record from eastern Arunachal Pradesh (Fig. 1).

Inset map of India shows position of Arunachal Predesh in the extreme north east of the country, with Tibet (China) to the north, Myanmar to the east, Bhutan to the west, and Assam and Nagaland (India) to the south. The main map shows Arunachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state wider than it is deep, curving from west around to the east and southward around Assam. All rivers run from north to south due to the mountainous terrain. The previous Lutra lutra sightings were in the west of hte country, one in the Pakke Tiger Reserve, on the Kameng River and border with Assam, and the other at the extreme west, near the border with Bhutan, on the Nyamjamg Chu River. The new sighting is at the extreme south east of the country, on the Namdapha River, where the country has a projection into Myanmar.
Figure 1. Map showing past and present records.

During the 2021-2024 monitoring season of the Critically Endangerd White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) in Namdapha Tiger Reserve (Fig. 2)., we encountered one Eurasian otter through direct sighting.

A fast-flowing river with a very rocky bed interspersed with patches on sand, with grassy patches and a dense forest on the far bank, and mountains in the distance.
Figure 2. Namdapha River.

On October 24, 2023, a single Eurasian Otter was observed grooming itself for about 2 minutes, on a sandy patch on the bank of the Namdapha River (27° 31′N, 96° 30′E; WGS 84; 476 m elevation) (Fig. 3). After grooming, the otter basked, walked across the sandy area, and swam along the riverbank for approximately 4 meters before diving and disappearing from view. The otter was later seen hunting around 30 meters away from its sand basking spot, spending about 40 minutes searching for fish without success. It then swam across the river, walked into the vegetation and disappeared. The area of the river where the otter was sighted had a pond-like appearance, while the section where it hunted was more riffled. This river stretch had an average riverbed width of 33.3 meters, an average river width of 20 meters, and an average depth of 28.3 cm.

A otter sitting on the sand, scratching its left shoulder with its left hind paw. Head shape, markings and paws clearly identify it as Lutra lutra.
Figure 3. Eurasian otter Lutra lutra on the sandy bank of River Namdapha.

Otters serve as excellent indicators of healthy riverine ecosystems (Madsen et al., 2001). However, their populations are declining due to habitat degradation and poaching (Savage, 2022). The Himalayas, with their extensive river drainage systems, offer potential habitats for otters. However, unprecedented intensive developmental activities in the Himalayas poses a significant threat to both the habitat and the species. This, coupled with the lack of information about their distribution, could be a major drawback in conservation efforts. Consequently, more otter-specific studies are necessary to understand their distribution and status, which is essential for effective conservation.

Acknowledgments - We thank staff at ATREE, Regional Office Eastern Himalaya-Northeast India for various support: Dr. Sarala Khaling, Mr. Rohit George, Mr. Sunil Dahal. We thank Dr. Sailendra Dewan for preparing the map. We extend our gratitude towards Department of Forest, and Government of Arunachal Pradesh for the permit (Permit No. CWL/Gen/2018-19/Pt.X/1516-20) to work in NTR. The staff of Namdapha Tiger Reserve are acknowledged for their support and co-operation. Financial support for fieldwork was provided by The Habitat Trust as part of the project: Saving the White-bellied Heron in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

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Résumé: Enregistrement Photographique de la Loutre Eurasienne (Lutra lutra) de la Réserve des Tigres de Namdapha, dans l’Arunachal Pradesh, en Inde
Les loutres d’Eurasie (Lutra lutra) sont considérées comme quasi menacées par l’UICN et inscrites à l’Annexe I de la CITES. Malgré leur large répartition en Inde, l’information reste limitée. Dans l’Arunachal Pradesh, les trois espèces de loutres - la loutre d’Eurasie (Lutra lutra), la loutre à pelage lisse (Lutrogale perspicillata) et la loutre cendrée (Aonyx cinereus) - sont présentes, mais les informations sur leur répartition sont rares. Il convient de noter que les observations de loutres d’Eurasie dans l'Arunachal Pradesh ont principalement eu lieu dans les régions occidentales. Cette étude présente la première preuve photographique d’une loutre d’Eurasie dans la région orientale de la Réserve des Tigres de Namdapha dans l’Arunachal Pradesh.
Revenez au dessus

Resumen: Registro Fotográfico de Nutria Eurasiática (Lutra lutra) en la Reserva de Tigres Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Las nutrias Eurasiáticas (Lutra lutra) están clasificadas como casi amenazadas por la UICN, y están listadas en el Apéndice I del CITES. A pesar de su amplia distribución en India, la documentación permanece escasa. En Arunachal Pradesh están presentes las tres especies de nutria -nutrias Eurasiáticas (Lutra lutra), nutrias Lisas (Lutrogale perspicillata) y nutrias de uñas pequeñas Asiáticas (Aonyx cinereus), pero la información sobre las respectivas distribuciones es limitada. En forma notable, los avistajes de nutria Eurasiática en Arunachal Pradesh han ocurrido primariamente en las regiones ocdidentales. Este estudio presenta la primer evidencia fotográfica de una nutria Eurasiática en la región oriental de la Reserva de Tigres Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh.
Vuelva a la tapa

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