IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 41 Issue 1 (March 2024)
Abstracts
Confirmation of the Presence of Asian Small-Clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus in
Nepal After 185 Years
Pages 3 - 8 (Short Note)
Mohan Bikram Shrestha, Ganga Shrestha, Hiru Lal Dangaura, Rajeev Chaudhary, Purna Man Shrestha,
Karun Dewan, Rajesh Sada, Melissa Savage, and Zuofu Xiang
The Asian Small-clawed Otter has not been observed in Nepal since 1839. Because of a lack of evidence of the species over
such a prolonged period, it has been sometimes suggested that it is extinct in the country. Here, we present the first
photographic evidence of Asian Small-clawed Otter in Nepal in 185 years. In November 2024, a juvenile Asian Small-clawed Otter
was captured at the confluence of Rangun Khola and Puntara Khola of Dadeldhura District in far-western Nepal, was nurtured in
the Forest Office for a week before released to the wild. The presence of a juvenile otter implies the presence of other
otter individuals in the area. This rare observation is a significant confirmation of the species presence in Nepal
and warrants detailed study and conservation initiatives to conserve the species.
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