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Kashmir Locals React with a Mix of Excitement and Concern to Sightings of Otters in Local Waters | Wildlife Updates

In the village of Hugam, in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a group of teenagers had an unexpected encounter with wildlife on a summer evening in May. Nasir Amin Bhat, aged 17, was standing ankle-deep in the water of the Lidder River when his friend, Adil Ahmad, called out from the riverbank, warning him about something lurking beneath the surface. To their astonishment, a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) — a species listed as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — emerged from the icy waters and scrambled onto the riverbank, before vanishing into a grove of bushes.

The sighting, captured on a grainy video by Bhat, has ignited excitement among environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts. There was hope that the Eurasian otters, once presumed extinct, were making a comeback in the region. In recent years, the presence of these elusive creatures has been documented on multiple occasions, offering a glimmer of optimism for the conservation of Kashmir’s fragile freshwater habitats, which have faced threats from climate change and human activity.

Dr. Nisarg Prakash, a wildlife biologist, attributes the reappearance of otters to improved aquatic conditions and possibly reduced poaching. The Eurasian otter, once common in northern India, has seen its population fragmented due to habitat loss, pollution, and human interference. Despite the occasional scavenging of fish and the potential for unpredictable behavior near humans, otters do not typically pose a threat to people. Dr. Prakash encourages the public to recognize the otter as a species worth appreciating rather than fearing.

In Hugam village, however, the local response to the otter’s presence has been mixed. Many villagers express concern and have altered their daily routines to avoid the area. Some had even spread rumors about crocodiles in the river, before wildlife officials confirmed the creature was an otter and attempted to allay fears by bathing in the river themselves.

Despite the initial apprehension, the return of Eurasian otters to the region is seen as a positive indicator of a thriving ecosystem. To ensure their survival, it is imperative that efforts are made to maintain their habitats free from pollution and other detrimental human activities, conservationists emphasize.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/22/otters-spotted-in-kashmir-waters-and-residents-are-both-thrilled-and-wary?traffic_source=rss

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