Context

Recently, For the first time in India, a Eurasian otter was radio-tagged in the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in Narmadapuram district in Madhya Pradesh. 

Radio-Tagging Eurasian Otters in Satpura Tiger Reserve

• Radio Tagging is jointly carried out by Team of The Satpura Tiger Reserve and the NGO Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT).
• Except for the smooth-coated otter, there was no evidence of the other two otter species from Central India till 2016 when the first photographic evidence of the Eurasian otter was recorded in STR, extending the species’ geographical range to Central India.

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Eurasian Otter 

• Scientific Name of Eurasian Otter: Lutra lutra.
• About : 
  • It  is a captivating semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia. 
  • They are shy and nocturnal and are found near small streams in the interior forests and hunt their prey during the night.
• 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 India, Central India  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 

Why the Radio-collar Study of Eurasian Otters Significant?

• The radio-collar study will help to collect fine-scale data on the home ranges, movement, activity patterns, and habitat suitability of the Eurasian otters in the landscape.
• To understand and address the complex interactions between climate change, forests, freshwater availability, biodiversity.
  • Monitoring aquatic species like the Eurasian otter is critical for assessing the health and resilience of aquatic ecosystems.