Illegal sand mining in the Cauvery basin has compromised the landscape, affecting the health of the river, and the lives of all creatures, big and small, that depend on it. Bandipur Tiger Reserve is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and home to the largest populations of the tiger and Asian elephant in the world. Otters, A Close Encounter with the Otters of Sungei Buloh. Their smooth, warm fur is highly sought after and fetches a high price in parts of southeast Asia and Tibet where they are fashioned into coats and caps. They spraint in different kinds of places too - the Their return indicates that there is plenty to eat for the otters and that there is a natural habitat safe enough for them to breed. The smooth-coated otter is listed as a vulnerable species. More than a decade later, I am still trying to study otters but I know the link between them and rivers is not as simple as I thought. They would tell me that otters were active at night, something that published literature did not indicate. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee. Photos: Nisarg Prakash. +1 (425) 454-2113 Few recognised that commercial fishing was affecting the otters’ lifestyle in a riverscape that was witnessing drastic transformations. In 1998, the otters Int. Estuarine (Salt-Water) crocodiles are the only likely predator. Mohali – 160062, Punjab, United States waters, otters would detect approach by predators using their whiskers to monitor water currents. The reptile is famous in the area and the residents have given it the name “Tailless.” Otters are territorial and not averse to taking on predators bigger than themselves. whether they do or not. Here, otters coexist with muggers that have largely disappeared outside the sanctuary and, fish eagles soar overhead with their mournful calls echoing along the river. prominant positions, high up, and the Small-Claw prefers flat rocks high up, but in less prominent positions. Otters are not popular among fishermen either, mainly for two reasons — they have learnt to take fish from the nets that fishermen set up, and in the process they also damage them. In … Illegal sand mining has come to occupy a disproportionately large area along the river, resulting in the displacing both, fishermen and otters to smaller stretches. A camera trap was used to monitor otter behaviour for a period of 74 days, during which Asian Small-clawed otters were recorded 17 times and Smooth-coated otters were … Predators. Smooth-coated otters hunt in groups, and they herd the fi… Sea lions are a problem in some areas as well. They have adapt well to human environments in Singapore, and had been observed to use urban structures (e.g. Peninsular India might be their last wild stronghold. Predators Saltwater crocodiles and other crocodile species are predators of Smooth-Coated Otters. Smooth-coated otter is sympatric with the gharial and Mugger crocodile, two other top predators in the freshwater ecosystem of the Karnali and Babai rivers. TERMS OF USE Smooth -coated otters in Singapore are found in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio … Though dam reservoirs are not an ideal habitat and might not support the otter densities, the Kabini backwaters are important as there is no intensive fishing, settlements, or sand mining that can drive them away. Vibrissae (sensitive hair or whiskers) around the mouth play a role in locating fish under these circumstances. Serving as effective symbols of environment quality, otters are endorsed as Wetland Ambassadors to promote the conservation of freshwater biomes (ecological community types). Large predators are absent, leopards having been deliberately exterminated by 1964, but small carnivores include Bengal fox, jackal, striped hyena, common palm civet, small Indian civet, Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsi), fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and smooth-coated otter. But this is also otter territory. This is popularly known as “elephant country” and in summer, hundreds congregate along the backwaters of the Kabini reservoir. Smooth-coated otters are used for … Specifically, development activities, conversion and clearance of wetlands into settlements and for agriculture, as well as construction of large-scale hydroelectric projects have contributed to the habitat destruction of the Smooth-coated Otters, directly impacting the population. As human population has exponentially increased over the past century, demand for more land area, industrial activities and energy has been the driving factor behind one of the major threats to the Smooth-coated Otter population. As its name indicates, the fur of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters. Almost all of the sand that Bangalore and other major towns consume comes from the Cauvery basin. Subspecies Subspecies of the Smooth-Coated Otter include: Lutrogale perspicillata perspicillata Lutrogale perspicillata sindica Interesting Facts The Smooth-Coated Otter is also known as: Smooth Otter Asian River Otter Indian Smooth Otter Indian Smooth-Coated Otter All three have been seen to regularly visit and sniff each other's spraint sites, evidently recognising them as of Their major threats are pythons and crocodiles (that can lay in lure near the water) together with eagles and human activities. This study was undertaken by myself and three other newly graduated scientists and was supported through a variety of fund raising activities and sponsorships. A Close Encounter with the Otters of Sungei Buloh. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is a species of otter, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale.The species is found in most of the Indian Subcontinent and eastwards to Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. These animals are too small to interest the top range Other competitors for fish include the Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), the Indian Gharial The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary along the river arguably has India’s finest riparian forest, and this 110 km stretch of river is free of human pressures — sand mining, fishing, pollution and diversion. The riverscape is changing drastically, rapidly and unsustainably. As its name indicates, the fur of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters. The river in the plains is usually very productive and can support fairly high otter densities when there is no overfishing or sand mining. The otters saw each puzzle twice, several months apart. Food and feeding habits of smooth-coated otters 17 mammals have been recorded from the reserve. Smooth-coated otters are easily tamed (Ansell 1947; Harrison 1968). A family of smooth-coated otters confronted a crocodile with no tail. 2nd Floor, Sector 67,SAS Nagar Fairly big groups of otters, sometimes of up to 15 individuals, inhabit about 15-20 km of river length. SMOOTH-COATED OTTERS IN URBAN SINGAPORE The Smooth-coated otters were absent from Singapore in the 1960s through to the 1990s because of the heavy urbanization during that period, such as rivers being canalized, coastal areas reclaimed and coastal development intensified (Theng & Sivasothi, 2016). Meet the Wetland Ambassadors – the Smooth-coated Otters. Appearance and Anatomy: Geographical Range: Locomotion: Habitat and Home: Social Organization: Predators and Competitors: Communication: Threats to Survival: Reproduction: Conservation Status: Hunting and Feeding: This proved my initial belief wrong — that otters only lived in places that were “less disturbed” by people. The researchers found that the otters solved puzzles 69% faster on average the second time—suggesting a … Smooth-coated otters are sometimes trapped for their pelts (Roberts 1977). turtles, larger fish, and birds such as the heron, kingfisher and egrets. The otters successfully ran the croc out of their home range. Their eyes and ears are small, the tail is flattened, limbs are short, strong, and the fore and hind paws are large and well-webbed. I first saw smooth-coated otters in the summer of 2007 along the Kabini river in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. If you're a fisherman in India, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, an otter might be part of your fishing routine! The otters are protected in India under the Wildlife Act, 1972. © RoundGlass 2020, India The otters I encountered were shy but not terribly bothered by the presence of people. On land they have to be careful about coyotes. I first saw smooth-coated otters in the summer of 2007 along the Kabini river in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. Their range and population are shrinking due to loss of wetland habitat and contamination of waterways by pesticides. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is a species of otter, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale.The species is found in most of the Indian Subcontinent and eastwards to Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. They are strong swimmers and hunt in groups. But many fishermen I met also knew them better than most biologists. Even in turbid Eurasian Otter mainly chooses sites near the water's edge, the Smooth-Coat prefers large, flat rocks in very While habitat loss is a real threat, their disappearance is mainly due to targeted poaching by organised gangs that specialise in setting up jaw traps and hunting with trained hounds. We observed large group of L. perspicillata comprising of 12 individuals chasing around an adult Mugger crocodile in Teen kune ( Figure 3 ). It is an exceptional swimmer, sleek and aerodynamic in the water, and a carnivorous hunter, eating other animals, such as frogs and fish. The smooth-coated otters had learned to adapt to fishing practices where gill nets were left out all night as catch was thought to be better between sundown and sunrise. With great enthusiasm, and a little naivete, I decided to study the river system through otters, as a sort-of mascot for the freshwater ecosystems they inhabited. Unlike the exploitation that Cauvery has witnessed, the Kabini (though it has one large dam) thrives with diverse mammalian fauna. Bellevue, WA 98004. is a wildlife biologist working mostly along streams and rivers. To some extent, +91-11 39585644 say whether they added to each other's heaps as they would to conspecifics' sites; it would be interesting to know The information below comes mainly from Kruuk (1995), Kruuk, Kanchanasaka et al (1994) and A Close Encounter with the Otters of Sungei Buloh. Photo: Sourabh Bharti/Shutterstock Sand banks along rivers are an important element of the otter’s habitat. The other interesting fact about otters is that a single romp can have a large home range (what we now term an ‘otter corridor’). If you were going fishing, what equipment would you take with you? An ecological study of the fish distribution and their predators particularly the smooth coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata. The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is a species of otter, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale. Otters are apex predators in a riverine ecosystem. Estuarine (Salt-Water) crocodiles are the only likely predator. Smooth-coated otter are widely distributed in Southeast Asia but very little information is available on the status of Smooth-coated otter populations in Gujarat state as well as India, although there seems to have been a rapid decline due to loss of habitat and intensive poaching (Hussain et al., 2008). Research also provides evidence otters have capacity ... found that smooth-coated otters learn from each other. Cover Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee. Otter Joy is wholly owned and maintained by L.C. The 110-km stretch of the Cauvery in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is truly alive and without much disturbance through much of the year. Smooth-coated otters are agile in the water and on land and use their sensitive whiskers to detect water disturbances. It is here they scent-mark, play, and socialise. Smooth-coated otters are territorial and can often be seen driving even muggers away from their favourite sand banks and spots along the river. These otters are primarily found in lowlands, peat swamp forests, coastal mangrove forests, large forested rivers, freshwater wetlands, lakes, and rice paddies. Smooth-coated Otters are the largest otter species […] The only Actually, these fishermen are taking advantage of the otters' natural behavior. As a result, fishermen incur both competition and monetary loss. Muggers and smooth-coated otters benefit from this protection too. Otters and fishermen occupying a narrow patch of the river means frequent damage to fishing nets by the otters and, as a result, little tolerance towards them. Flanked by protected areas on both sides, fishing is not allowed and watching elephants swim from Bandipur to Nagarahole National Park and vice-versa is not uncommon. The information below comes mainly from The smooth-coated otter which is found in tropical and subtropical Asia has seen its range decline drastically. ), gaps under buildings) as alternatives for their holts, and learnt to use man-made structures such as staircases and ladders to get in and out of concrete canals with vertical or near‐vertical banks. After all, they would see fishermen setting up nets every day. There are several other predators that the Otter has to worry about as well. The Smooth-Coated Otter is a hefty fishing otter. “The fact that the smooth-coated otter is so adaptable to change and to human-dominated landscapes, enabling it to coexist within this ecosystem, is fascinating,” she added. African clawless otters don’t have many predators since they are quick in the water and have burrows on land making them hard to catch. Even here, these social animals are on the verge of disappearing almost entirely in many river basins in the north, particularly in central and north Indian states. Otters belong to the family Mustelidae which also includes weasels and martens. Most fishermen believed that their nets offered the otters an easy meal, and hence deserved their wrath. By Nisarg Prakash. Zoo Yb. they use the habitat differently - the Small-Claw keeps to the shallows and riverbanks, the Smooth-Coat preferring Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks might have saved the otters in Kabini, but there is a crown-jewel even along the Cauvery that few places in the country can match. Here, otters live the way they must have for thousands of years unlike the river in the plains where they deal with enormous pressures from fishermen and sand miners in addition to diversion, dams and pollution. to any zoo or other organisation or body, Visit Here is what I can find about this otter. 1756 114th AVE SE the Smooth-Coat mainly large fish (>15cm), and the Eurasian Otter smaller fish and amphibians. They are the chief predators of the waters and indicators of the health of a wetland ecosystem. Kruuk, Kanchanasaka et al (1994) and Sometimes, these gangs use dogs to drive them out of their burrows or dense vegetations, and mercilessly club them to death. Some of them are on land while others will try to feed on them in the water. 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