Otters of India: Conservation Challenges and Veterinary Perspectives
Rohan Bharade
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Devendra Podhade *
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Kajal Jadav
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Aditya Mishra
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur- 482001, India.
Diksha Lade
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Yogendra Sinha
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Yash Sagar
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Otters are described as top predators in freshwater and coastal food webs. By preying on fish, crustaceans, amphibians and small mammals, they help regulate prey populations. Unfortunately, many otter populations are declining due to habitat loss, pollution, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. This review explored conservation challenges and veterinary perspectives on Indian otters. The Smooth-coated otter and the Asian small-clawed otter, being the smallest species, are classified as vulnerable by IUCN and are protected under Schedule I species in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. Similarly, the Eurasian otter is classified as near threatened. The otter population is declining due to mining, illegal trade, poaching and disturbance of the riparian ecosystem, which is mainly due to the presence of human activities in dense forests of the Western Ghats. Smooth-coated otters were mainly traded for fur and the live pet trade, while Small-clawed otters were traded mostly for live pets, especially in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. From a veterinary standpoint, prioritising the health and welfare of both free-ranging and captive otters is equally critical, particularly in the face of emerging zoonotic diseases such as canine distemper and the increasing incidence of trauma resulting from human activities. By developing species-specific health protocols, promoting ethical standards in captive management and supporting field-based ecological research, it is possible to play a pivotal role in the survival of these vulnerable species.
Keywords: Otters, conservation, population, captive management, dlife (protection) amendment act