Once considered to be extinct in the Himalayan region, the elusive Eurasian otter has made a rare appearance in the Gurez Valley, Bandipora district.
The otter's presence has sparked excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.
Otters are carnivorous mammals belonging to the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, minks, etc. They are one of the top predators found in river ecosystems across the country.
A recent video of three Eurasian otters feasting on rainbow trout has set social media abuzz in the Kishenganga River.
The rare footage captured by one of the local wildlife enthusiasts offers an exclusive glimpse into the species that was considered to have gone extinct from Kashmir a few decades ago.
“This recent encounter has reignited interest in the region’s fragile aquatic ecosystem and the potential return of a species long thought to be lost,” said Irfan Shangoo, who captured the video footage of the otters.
Meanwhile, the authorities have started their efforts to protect these otters as they are already on the verge of extinction.
An official said that the River Otter, also known as the Erosion Otter, was sighted for the first time in Gurez. “Although it was present in the area, no official sightings had been recorded before. The otter is an aquatic species that primarily lives in water,” he said.
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One of the experts said that in winter, Gurez Valley remains untouched by outsiders or tourists, which keeps it clean, but in summer, because of the tourism boom, the Kishenganga River turns into a pollution hub.
He said authorities need to take steps to control pollution in these border areas where biodiversity supports otters and important aquatic species living in the fragile ecosystem.
“These otters decline because of human activities and pressure on water bodies. No water bodies are without garbage; if we want to protect them, we have to keep our water bodies clean,” he said.
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