Context: Recently, a team of researchers have discovered Eurasian otter in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki, a first in Kerala. 

Kerala Witnesses Rare Eurasian Otter

• This discovery from the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is the first official record of Eurasian otter in Kerala.
• There are three species of otters found in Kerala, including smooth-coated otter and small-clawed otter.

About Eurasian Otter

• Scientific Name of Eurasian Otter: Lutra lutra.

• It  is a captivating semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia.
• Habitat: The Eurasian otter lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including highland and lowland lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, swamp forests and coastal areas.
• Distribution: It is distributed throughout three continents i.e., Europe, Asia and Africa. 
  • In India, it occurs in northern, northeast and southern India. 
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Near Threatened
  • Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• They are shy and nocturnal and are found near small streams in the interior forests and hunt their prey during the night.

About Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats in Idukki, Kerala.
• Year of formation: 1984
• Flora: 
  • The major portion of the area is covered with grasslands. There were also several patches of shoals.
  • The sanctuary has a unique thorny scrub forest with xerophytic species.
  • Acacia arabica, Acacia leucofolia, Acacia concinna, Prosporis juliflora, and Opuntia dillenii. 
• Fauna: Elephant, Gaur, panther, spotted deer, Sambar, Grizzled giant squirrel, Hanuman monkey etc are the common mammals.

Also Read: Rare Pelagic Birds on Karnataka’s Coast

News Source: The Hindu