Otter Conservation To Save Wetland Ecology

Prabin Lama

Otters, belonging to the Mustelidae family, are peculiar owing to their feeding habit and their way of living. These animals can attract tourists and help promote wildlife tourism. Otters are known for their playful behaviour having long, streamlined bodies and webbed feet which make easier to walk, swim, groom, and handle prey. They are cute creatures that swim around, hold hands, and appear to be having a lot of fun all the time. Their antics can easily attract anyone, as they are playful and intelligent creatures. They have the potential to be used as umbrella species in a variety of aquatic habitats which can have an umbrella effect and help protect other species.  

The majority of otter species enjoy clean water with little human interference and depend primarily on fish and crustaceans in the wild. Otters are considered as indicators to the health of the aquatic environment. Their presence marks the sign of healthy ecosystem. They are important for freshwater diversity conservation. It is a key wetland species and has pivotal role in river ecosystems. Since, they are predators they help in regulating the populations of the species they feed on. 

All 13 species of otter found in the globe are put in the IUCN Red List of threatened species.  With the exception of the North American river otter, whose population is thought to be steady, all other otter species are in decline. Nevertheless, this is debatable because trapping results in the legal deaths of tens of thousands of individuals annually. Five Otter species live in South East Asia. Among them three were present in Nepal in the study conducted by Bryan Hodgson in 1990s. In recent times, Smooth coated otter and Eurasian otter have been documented in Nepal. But there is lack of evidence to confirm whether the small clawed otters are present in Nepal or not.

According to several studies, otter numbers in Nepal have drastically decreased in recent decades due to hunting and degradation of natural habitats. They are hunted for their meat, internal organs, and pelt for use in traditional medicines. Otter habitats are becoming increasingly unsuitable due to increased human disturbances in wetland areas, increasing deforestation, and transformation of wetland areas into agricultural lands. Otters are yet to receive conservation attention. Some scattered records are available about their geographic distribution, population size, preferred habitats, and other traits.  Studies conducted so far are insufficient.

Connecting conservation of the otter species to the livelihood of local people can be fruitful for the conservation of these species. Otters prey on fish and there is always some kind of conflict between otters and fishery entrepreneurs. Diversifying the livelihood of local fishermen is also crucial.  The biggest issue in otter conservation is the lack of awareness. Majority of Nepali populace is unaware that otters exist in Nepal. People who live close to wetland habitats can greatly benefit from management programmes highlighting ecological characteristics such as habitat, diet preferences, their role in ecosystems and conservation issues. It is important to raise awareness in the neighborhood and among fishermen which can gradually persuade locals to recognise otters as an essential component of freshwater ecosystem.

There is a close connection between wetlands and otters, and it is our responsibility to protect these significant ecosystems for the sake of otters, other wetland animals, and eventually ourselves.