The Eurasian otter, once believed to be nearly extinct in Kashmir’s Gurez Valley, has made an encouraging return to the region. Recent sightings in the area suggest a potential resurgence of this elusive species, which is a hopeful sign of a healthier aquatic ecosystem in the region.
Camera traps set up by the wildlife department in the border district of Bandipora, near the Kishanganga River in Dawar Tehsil, have provided rare photographic evidence of the otters’ presence. While sightings were once rare, their appearance in images from the camera traps offers a promising glimpse of the species’ comeback.
This marks the first documented sighting in recent years, with earlier reports from August 2023, when researchers studying the Kashmir musk deer inadvertently captured images of two otters near Tarbal, close to the Line of Control.
Intesaar Suhail, the Wildlife Warden for North Kashmir, emphasized that these sightings are not entirely unprecedented. In 2023, a collaborative research project involving SKUAST-Kashmir and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) also reported camera-trapped evidence of Eurasian otters in the same area.
Once common in Kashmir 20-25 years ago, Eurasian otters have become increasingly scarce due to habitat pressures. Suhail described this rediscovery as an encouraging sign, given that their presence in the region was once considered nearly impossible.
Recent reports of Eurasian otter sightings across Kashmir, and even in Ladakh 10-15 years ago, suggest a broader range for the species than originally thought. This comeback in Gurez is viewed as a positive indication for the region’s aquatic biodiversity.
Historically, Eurasian otters thrived in diverse aquatic habitats across the Indian subcontinent, but habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbance have drastically reduced their numbers. Currently listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List, these otters’ return to Gurez brings renewed hope for their survival and the health of local ecosystems.
