Fresh photographs of the elusive Eurasian otter in Sindh Nallah, central Kashmir, have sparked renewed interest in the semi-aquatic mammal, reigniting debates over its presence in the Valley, where it was long thought to have vanished.
The photograph was captured by Mir Faizan Anwar, a Range Officer with the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department, during a routine patrol in his jurisdiction along with the staff. The image has been described by senior forest officials as a significant scientific record, reinforcing growing evidence that the species continues to inhabit Kashmir’s river systems.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool, termed the photograph the first direct visual documentation of the Eurasian otter from the Kashmir Valley, recorded in Sindh Nallah.
“Earlier camera-trap records had confirmed the presence of Otters in Kishenganga (Bandipora)and Rambiara Nalla (south Kashmir). This new evidence from Sindh Nalla further strengthens and extends confirmation of the presence of otters in Kashmir,” he said, adding “Kashmir’s riverine habitats are of immense ecological significance and must be conserved.”
Mir Faizan said he spotted the otter on January 21 at around 10 am in the Sindh canal, which feeds a hydropower project in Ganderbal district.
“I heard unusual sounds while walking through the area. I recognised it immediately and managed to take photographs,” he said.
Soon after, local residents gathered at the site, initially suspecting the animal to be a crocodile. “I informed them that it was an otter, locally known as Vudar, and explained that its presence is a good sign. Otters thrive only in clean water, so they indicate good water quality,” Mir said.
Wildlife Warden of North Kashmir, Intesar Suhail, said the Eurasian otter is gradually reclaiming its former habitats across the Valley. “Otters have been reported in Kashmir for the past five to six years. Their presence is well established,” he said, stressing that the species was never officially declared extinct.
“Extinction is a formal scientific declaration. There were always indirect evidences,” Suhail said, recalling his own sighting of an otter in the backwaters of Dal Lake in 1993. Although direct sightings became rare over time, indirect signs—such as fish remains left behind in a distinctive feeding pattern—continued to be observed in areas like Hirpora in Shopian district.
According to Suhail, pollution and intense fishing pressure caused a sharp decline in otter populations in major lakes such as Dal and Wular. However, the species has persisted in less disturbed upstream habitats and high-altitude streams, including Sindh, Lidder, Rambiara, and parts of south Kashmir.
“Otters are naturally elusive. Their low visibility does not mean they disappeared,” he said.
The renewed attention follows earlier reports suggesting the species had vanished from the region. In June 2025, a rare sighting of a Eurasian otter in the Lidder River at Srigufwara sparked headlines after villagers mistook it for a crocodile. Wildlife officials later confirmed the animal’s identity through video footage and CCTV recordings.
Globally, the Eurasian otter is classified as “Near Threatened” by the International union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Historically, it was an integral part of Kashmir’s aquatic ecosystems, with records from Dachigam, streams feeding Dal Lake, the Lidder River, and Rambiara Nallah.
Prof Khursheed Ahmad of the Wildlife Sciences Department at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir said otter populations were once widespread across major river systems, including Sindh and Wular Lake.
“Their population was well established earlier, but habitat degradation, reduced reporting, and declining numbers made sightings increasingly rare,” he said.
While recent observations are encouraging, Khursheed cautioned against drawing conclusions about population recovery. “The reappearance is welcome, but we need systematic studies to assess population trends and frequency of sightings,” he said.
He said that areas where otters have been recorded must now be prioritised for protection. Focused conservation efforts, habitat management, and long-term monitoring are essential to ensure the species stabilises and recovers.(Majid Jahangir)
