Why in news?
The Uttarakhand Forest Department has reported the first official sighting of smooth‑coated otters in Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary. The semi‑aquatic mammals were captured on camera traps and mobile phones by patrolling teams. Their presence is being celebrated as an indicator of the sanctuary’s healthy rivers and streams.
Background
Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Terai Arc landscape of Uttarakhand. It forms a crucial corridor between Corbett and Rajaji landscapes in the west and Pilibhit–Dudhwa and the Terai of Nepal in the east. Flanked by the Gola River on one side and the Sharda River on the other, it is intersected by the Nandhaur River which divides the landscape before draining into the plains. The sanctuary’s mixed tropical moist deciduous forests host more than a hundred tree species, including shisham, bamboo, teak and chir pine. Fauna recorded here include Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, tigers and Asiatic black bears.
Smooth‑coated otters
- Habitat indicator: Smooth‑coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They are considered biological indicators because they survive only in clean, unpolluted freshwater ecosystems with abundant fish and amphibians. Their presence suggests that Nandhaur’s rivers are healthy and support a robust food chain.
- Behaviour and diet: These otters are skilled hunters that rely heavily on fish, although they also eat frogs and crustaceans. Sensitive whiskers allow them to detect prey movements in murky or dark waters, enabling them to forage successfully in different conditions.
- Conservation implications: Officials have stepped up monitoring and appealed to local communities to avoid polluting the sanctuary’s streams. The sighting underscores the need to protect waterways from encroachment and contamination to ensure the otters’ survival.
Significance
- Ecological health: The otters’ presence confirms that the sanctuary’s aquatic habitats remain pristine and supports diverse life forms.
- Biodiversity corridor: As part of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, Nandhaur connects forest blocks across the Himalayan foothills. Protecting it maintains landscape connectivity for elephants and other wide‑ranging species.
- Community engagement: The discovery encourages greater public interest in wildlife conservation and emphasizes the importance of preserving local rivers.
Source: New Indian Express
