Eurasian Otter Spotted in Kashmir, Why Is It an Important Discovery?
Srinagar: Fresh photographs of the rare 'Eurasian otter' in the Sindh stream of central Kashmir have reignited discussions about its presence in the valley. The animal was long believed to be extinct.
India is home to three otter species – the smooth-coated, the Asian small-clawed, and the Eurasian. While all are lumped together as the 'water-cat' in various Indian languages, there are differences between the three.
The photographs were taken by Mir Faizan Anwar, a range officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department, along with his staff during a routine patrol. Senior forest officials have termed the photographs a significant scientific record, confirming the continued presence of the species in Kashmir's rivers.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool, described it as the first direct visual documentation of the Eurasian otter from the Sindh stream. He said, "Earlier camera-trap records had confirmed the presence of otters in Kishan Ganga (Bandipora) and Rambiara stream (South Kashmir). This new evidence further strengthens their presence across the region." He added that Kashmir's riverine habitats are ecologically very important and need to be conserved.
Faizan said he spotted the otter on January 21, around 10 am, in the Sindh canal, which feeds a hydroelectric project in Ganderbal district. He said, "While passing through the area, I heard some unusual sounds. I immediately recognized it and managed to take photographs."
Soon, locals gathered there, who initially mistook it for a crocodile. Mir said, "I told them it was an otter, locally called 'Wudhar', and explained that its presence is a good sign. Otters thrive only in clean water, so they indicate good water quality."
Eurasian otter is gradually reclaiming its old habitats in Kashmir
Wildlife Warden of North Kashmir, Intesar Suhail, said that the Eurasian otter is gradually reclaiming its old habitats in the valley. He emphasized that the species had never been officially declared extinct. Recalling his own sighting of an otter near Dal Lake in 1993, Suhail said that although direct sightings had become rare, indirect signs such as fish remains continued to be found in areas like Heerpora in Shopian.
Pollution and excessive fishing pressure major threats
According to Suhail, pollution and excessive fishing pressure had led to a drastic decline in their numbers in large lakes like Dal and Wular. However, the species persisted in less disturbed areas such as the upper reaches of the Sindh, Lidder, Rambiyara, and other parts of South Kashmir. "Otters are inherently solitary and shy creatures. Their infrequent sightings don't mean they had disappeared," he said.
Earlier, in June 2025, a sighting of an otter in the Lidder River in Srigufwara made headlines, with villagers initially mistaking it for a crocodile. Globally, the Eurasian otter is classified as 'Near Threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Studies are needed to draw conclusions about population recovery
Professor Khurshid Ahmad of the Wildlife Sciences Department at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology said that their population was once widespread, but habitat degradation and a lack of reporting had made them rare. He described the recent photographs as encouraging but cautioned that systematic studies are needed to draw conclusions about population recovery. He added that conservation efforts should now prioritize the areas where the presence of otters has been recorded.