During a recent tiger survey at Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand, India, researchers encountered an unexpected animal. While setting up trail cameras to estimate the tiger population in March 2024, the team noticed a “large-sized” mammal with a “smooth-coated” appearance. This sighting prompted them to deploy additional trail cameras in May 2024, focusing on areas where they found signs such as tracks or scat.
The effort resulted in the first photographic evidence of smooth-coated otters at the sanctuary. According to a study published August 26 in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, two photos taken on May 16 captured four smooth-coated otters near a waterfront. Another set of images from May 21 showed two otters moving among large boulders.
“Little is known about otter distribution in Uttarakhand,” the surrounding state, researchers said. The wildlife sanctuary had “suitable habitat for otters,” but no one had seen them in the area.
Smooth-coated otters can weigh up to about 24 pounds and are considered vulnerable. They receive the highest level of protection under Indian law. These animals usually live in family groups and hunt together for fish, shrimps, frogs, crabs, insects, and birds. Their populations face threats from poaching, habitat loss, accidental trapping, pet trade activities, and pollution.
Researchers recommend that future conservation plans at Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary include measures for these at-risk otters. “It is imperative to conduct systematic surveys for otters in (the) Nandhaur landscape to determine their population and distribution patterns, thus ensuring their long-term survival,” the study said.
Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in northern India’s Uttarakhand state along borders with Nepal and Tibet. The research team included Nishant Bhardwaj, Hritik Nautiyal, Harish Guleria and Bilal Habib.
