Rare Himalayan Otters Sighted in Kashmir’s Gurez Valley
SRINAGAR: A recent video circulating on social media has captured the elusive Himalayan otters feasting on rainbow trout in the Kishanganga River, Gurez.
The footage, recorded by Wajid Munawar Shangroo, a resident of Markoot, Gurez, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these semi-aquatic mammals, locally known as vadurs in the Shina language.
“I live near the Kishanganga River,” Shangoo recounted. “During my childhood, around 2001-2002, I once saw an otter here. I was very young at the time.”
Otters, belonging to the Mustelidae family, are semi-aquatic carnivorous mammals. With seven genera and 13 species distributed across every continent except Australia and Antarctica, they are a vital part of aquatic ecosystems. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), a member of the subfamily Lutrinae, is particularly notable for its wide distribution across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its scarcity and ecological importance have made it a subject of scientific interest, especially in the Himalayan region, including Kashmir.
The recent sighting in Gurez is not an isolated event. During a 2023 research study, two Eurasian otters were observed in the riverine environment of the Kishanganga River. This discovery adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the presence of these mammals in the region.
Other significant sightings include a brief camera trap survey in October 2020, which recorded three Eurasian otters in the Neru Stream, a left-bank tributary of the Chenab River (Singh et al., 2023). Similarly, the first systematic survey of otters in the Indian Trans-Himalayas confirmed their presence in Ladakh, underscoring the need for conservation efforts in high-altitude areas (Jamwal et al., 2016).
Wajid recalled that for many years, otters had been absent from the area, though elders in the community often spoke of their presence in times past. “We did not see any otters for a long time,” he said. “But in 2023, I spotted one near my house, eating fish in the river.” His observations did not end there. Earlier this week, on 27 and 28 January, he witnessed three otters in the same area over two consecutive days, feasting on fish.
He explained that the otters are drawn to this stretch of the river due to the presence of five or six small caves along its banks. “They eat fish and retreat to these caves at night,” he noted. “They have been seen here for many years, and from what I’ve observed, their population is slowly increasing.”
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is represented by seven subspecies, including L.l. Kutab, which is found in northern India, particularly in Kashmir. Research studies have documented the species’ distribution across diverse ecological zones in India, spanning the northern states of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, as well as the north-eastern Himalayan foothills and parts of central and southern India. Beyond India, the species has also been reported in the northern Himalayas of Pakistan, Bhutan, and Nepal.
In Kashmir, the Eurasian otter is considered an indicator species, signalling the health of aquatic ecosystems. Like its European counterparts, it thrives in cold streams and rivers. Remarkably, otters have been observed in the Himalayas at elevations of up to 3,660 metres during the summer months. They favour fast-flowing upper river sections, where carp and other fish spawn, making these areas critical to their survival.
Classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (Loy et al., 2022) and listed in Appendix I of CITES (2023), the Eurasian otter underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts. As a predator of fish, amphibians, and invertebrates, the species plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of riverine habitats, highlighting its importance in sustaining aquatic biodiversity.
The Kishanganga River, fed by glacial melt, winds through the Gurez Valley, sustaining its verdant terrain and rich biodiversity. This high-altitude Himalayan region blanketed in coniferous and broadleaved Betula forests, is home to a range of wildlife, including the Himalayan black bear, common leopard, musk deer, and migratory waterfowl.
Once abundant across Kashmir—from the Lidder and Jhelum Valleys to the vast expanse of Wular Lake—the Eurasian otter has become increasingly elusive. Its decline, driven by habitat destruction, pollution, and human encroachment, mirrors the broader ecological challenges facing the region. (KL)
