For 3 many years, the Eurasian otter, as soon as an integral a part of Kashmir’s aquatic ecosystem, was regarded as extinct within the Valley. Nevertheless, a uncommon sighting of the semi-aquatic mammal has now been reported in south Kashmir.
The otter, which has been globally labeled as ‘close to threatened’ by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was noticed within the Lidder River in Srigufwara, south Kashmir.
Whereas villagers initially thought it was a crocodile, wildlife officers recognized it as an Eurasian otter after watching movies captured by the villagers. That was later confirmed by means of photographic proof.
“It has been confirmed as Eurasian otter,” Suhail Ahmad Wagar, the Wildlife Warden for south Kashmir, informed The Indian Categorical. “After it was reported, we arrange CCTV surveillance, and we’ve got captured it (on digital camera) at just a few locations.”
The Eurasian otter, regionally generally known as Vuder, was an integral a part of Kashmir’s aquatic ecosystem and was abundantly discovered within the water our bodies. Its presence was used to scare the kids and hold them away from the water our bodies.
Nevertheless, during the last three many years, it was not noticed within the water our bodies of the Valley, and it was regarded as extinct in Kashmir.
The sudden decline in otters, a carnivorous mammal that feeds on fish and different aquatic fauna, was attributed to elevated water air pollution and looking of the mammal for its fur.
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“Historic information counsel that Kashmir had a considerable otter inhabitants in Dachigam and the stream that fed the Dal lake. It was additionally generally seen in Rambiara stream (in south Kashmir) and the Lidder river (in Pahalgam),” Wagay stated. “Nevertheless, it was not noticed for the final 25-30 years, so we thought it had gone extinct (in Kashmir).”
Wildlife officers say that that is the third event this 12 months that it has been noticed within the Valley. “In Might, it was first noticed within the Gurez valley,” Wagay stated. “It was additionally noticed in Heerpora (in south Kashmir’s Shopian district).”
Wildlife officers say that the sighting of the mammal is encouraging and will assist restore Kashmir’s aquatic ecology.
