IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 42 Issue 4 (August 2025)

Citation: Mushtaq, U. and Ahmed, K. (2025). First Photographic Evidence of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in a Tributary of Chenab River, Marusudar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42 (4): 194 - 197

Previous | Contents | Next

First Photographic Evidence of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in a Tributary of Chenab River, Marusudar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Umar Mushtaq and Kaleem Ahmed*

Department of Wildlife Sciences Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India-202002
*Corresponding Author Email: kahmed.wl@amu.ac.in

Umar Mushtaq, a young man with short beard and moustache, wearing a cap and thick jacket with binoculars round his neck, with a wooded mountain behind him, and a light dusting of snow. Kaleem Ahmed, a cleanshaven man with short hair wearing a dark formal jacket and white shirt unbuttoned at the neck, against a plain white background, looking at the camera.

Download PDF (661 KB)

Received 3rd June 2025, accepted 2nd August 2025

Abstract: This study reports the first photographic evidence of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from the Marusudar River, a glacial tributary of the Chenab in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Recorded in April 2024 at 1114m elevation, this sighting extends the species' known range in the western Himalayas. The oak-dominated, boulder-strewn habitat faces threats from sand mining, road construction, and hydropower projects. The finding highlights the need for targeted conservation of high-altitude Himalayan rivers to protect rare species like the Eurasian otter.
Keywords: Apex predator, Keystone species, Semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal, Western Himalayas.

Française | Español

INTRODUCTION

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is known from several river systems in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Indus in Ladakh (Shawl et al., 2008; Jamwal et al., 2016), the Neeru stream in Doda district (Singh et al., 2023), and the Kishanganga River in Bandipora district (Javid et al., 2024), demonstrating its presence across varying altitudes in the western Himalayas. Globally, the species has declined over the past 23 years (Roos et al., 2015) and is currently listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN (Loy et al., 2022) and in Appendix I of CITES (2023). In India, it receives the highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. This article documents the first photographic record of L. lutra from the Marusudar River in Kishtwar, expanding its known range and underscoring the urgent need for focused conservation in the region.

OBSERVATION AND HABITAT NOTE

During a biodiversity survey in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, we recorded the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Marusudar River, a right-bank tributary of the Chenab (Figure 1). The otter was sighted twice - on April 7 and 9, 2024 - at 33°23'34.332'' N, 75°41'43.728'' E, altitude 1114 m (Figure 2). A single individual was observed both times at 1100 and 0940 hrs, using 10×50 binoculars and documented via smartphone video. Identification was based on Menon (2023). The otter was seen for ~20 minutes but was difficult to film due to its agility and the river’s fast current. The site had large boulders and diverse riparian vegetation including Quercus ilex, Alnusnitidia, Oleacuspidata, Acer caesium, and Pistacia integerrima (Figure 3). A nearby village engaged in sand mining and fishing. The Marusudar, formed by Batkot and Gumbar streams (also known as Warwan River), originates at ~5175 m and flows north-south through glaciated upper reaches (~2500–4700 m) with steep terrain and high cliffs, joining the Chenab near Bhandarkot (Romshoo et al., 2017).

Inset map shows the states of India, with Jammu and Kashmir in the extreme north west, north of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and to the west of Ladakh; to the north and west is Pakistan. Second map shows Jammu and Kashmir; a rectangle tilted down on the east side, with the study area in the east central area. Main image is a satellite view of a large river running down the centre of the photo, with a large tributary coming in on the left side; above the confluence is a bridge.. There are scattered houses and many fields on the left side, but a less cultivated area with more trees o the right. The sighting is marked in the middle of the main stream above the tributary and somewhat away from the houses and cultivated area.
Figure 1. Location of Eurasian otter sighting in Marusudar- tributary of Chenab River. (Source: Google Earth Pro)
Two images. On the left is a fast-flowing, turbid river with large pale rocks forming the bank but also in the stream. An otter is in the middle of the image, swimming against the current, near the rocky bank. Its head and back are clear. The righthand image is of the same river, with the otter in the middle of the stream, turning right. Its head and neck are clear.
Figure 2. Eurasian otter from Marusudar-tributary of Chenab River. (Photograph by Umar Mushtaq)
A fast flowing river running between very steep, rocky hills with sparse vegetation - grasses and a few trees and shrubs. In the foreground is the river bank comprising large rocks and gravel with no vegetation. Beyond are high, snow-capped mountains.
Figure 3. Habitat of Eurasian otter near Marusudar River.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the Eurasian otter’s presence in the Marusudar River, extending its known range in the Indian Himalayas. Given its role as an indicator of healthy aquatic ecosystems, urgent conservation action is needed as habitat degradation, poaching, and human disturbances threaten its survival. Targeted research using modern tools is essential to guide effective protection efforts.

Acknowledgements - The authors are grateful to the Chairperson, Department of Wildlife Sciences, for providing the necessary facilities to complete this task.
Author contributions - UM conducted the field survey and wrote the manuscript, while KA conceptualized the study, supervised the work, and edited the final version of the manuscript
Conflict of Interest - The authors declare no conflict of interest
Compliance with Ethical Standards – NA

REFERENCES

CITES. (2023). Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. https://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php
Jamwal, PS., Takpa, J., Chandan, P., Savage, M. (2016). First Systematic Survey for Otter (Lutra lutra) in Ladakh, Indian Trans Himalayas. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 33(1): 79–85.  https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume33/Jamwal_et_al_2016.html
Javid, M., Ahmad, K., Ilyas, O. (2024). Once Distributed throughout the Kashmir Valley, now on the Verge of Extinction: A Sighting of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in the Gurez Valley, Jammu and Kashmir. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 41 (4): 217 – 224. https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume41/Javid_et_al_2024.pdf
Loy, A., Kranz, A., Oleynikov, A., Roos, A., Savage, M., Duplaix, N. (2022). Lutra lutra (amended version of 2021 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T12419A218069689. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022- 2.RLTS.T12419A218069689.en
Menon, V. (2023). Indian mammals: A field guide. Hachette India.
Romshoo, S. A., Altaf, S., Amin, M., Ameen, U. (2017). Sediment yield estimation for developing soil conservation strategies in GIS environment for the mountainous Marusudar catchment, Chenab basin, J&K, India. J. Himal. Ecol. Sustain. Dev., 12, 16-32. https://envirsc.uok.edu.in/Files/ab1ac1f1-07e3-42a2-85bc-83717ef39155/Journal/b27efa68-0384-417b-a894-8346f8583120.pdf
Roos, A., Loy, A., de Silva, P., Hajkova, P., Zemanová, B. (2015). Lutra lutra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. IUCN.  https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T12419A21935287.en
Shawl, T., Takpa, J.,Phuntsog, T., Panchaksharam, Y. (2008). Field Guide: Mammals of Ladakh. New Delhi: WWF-India, 108 pp.
Singh, D.,Thakar, A., N. Sharma, N. (2023). On the occurrence of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Neeru stream of Chenab catchment, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 15(2): 22567–22573. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8082.15.2.22567-22573

Première Preuve Photographique de la Présence de la Loutre Eurasienne (Lutra lutra) sur un Affluent de la Rivière Chenab, Marusudar, Kishtwar, au Jammu-et-Cachemire, en Inde
Cette étude présente la première preuve photographique de la présence de la loutre eurasienne (Lutra lutra) sur la rivière Marusudar, un affluent glaciaire du Chenab à Kishtwar, situé au Jammu et au Cachemire. Cette observation a été enregistrée en avril 2024 à 1.114 m d’altitude. Elle permet d’étendre l’aire de répartition connue de l’espèce dans l’ouest de l’Himalaya. L’habitat dominé par les chênes et parsemé de rochers est menacé par l’extraction de sable, la construction de routes et les projets hydroélectriques. Cette découverte souligne la nécessité d’une conservation ciblée des rivières himalayennes de haute altitude afin de protéger des espèces rares comme la loutre eurasienne.
Revenez au dessus

Resumen: Primera Evidencia Fotográfica de Nutria Eurasiática (Lutra lutra) en un Tributario del Río Chenab, Marusudar, Kishtwar, Jammu y Kashmir, India
Este estudio reporta la primera evidencia fotográfica de Nutria Eurasiática (Lutra lutra) del Río mrusudar, un tributario glacial del Chenab en Kishtwar, Jammu y Kashmir. Registrado en Abril de 2024 a una elevación de 1.114 m, este avistaje extiende la distribución conocida de la especie en los Himalayas occidentales. Este hábitat dominado por roble, y con bloques de roca, enfrenta amenazas a partir de la minería de arena, la construcción de caminos, y proyectos hidroenergéticos. El hallazgo destaca la necesidad de una conservación enfocada, en los ríos del Himalaya, para proteger a especies raras como la nutria Eurasiática.
Vuelva a la tapa

Previous | Contents | Next