A routine bird-watching session at Podugupalem Lake, located 20 km from the port city of Visakhapatnam, led to an exciting discovery. Vivek Mathala, a banker and keen birdwatcher, along with his friend, spotted a smooth-coated otter on April 1. This marked the first recorded sighting of this species in the district.
“We were watching birds and taking photos when we heard loud noises from some egrets. Curious, we looked towards the lake shore and saw an otter running and then disappearing into the bushes. I took pictures right away. I knew it was an otter, but I didn’t realize it was a smooth-coated otter. Later, I shared the pictures with the Vizag Bird Watchers group. That’s when we found out it was the first sighting of this species in Podugupalem and the district. It was exciting to capture such a rare sighting,” said Vivek.
Smooth-coated otters are listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List since 1996 due to threats from habitat loss, pollution, and poaching. This sighting is significant because the nearest previous record was from Kondakarla Ava, a freshwater lake about 70 km from Podugupalem, in 2021.
Marine biologist Sri Chakra Pranav, founder of the East Coast Conservation Team, provided more insights. “In the Kondakarla Ava area, otters often conflict with local fishermen because they eat fish from commercial farms and damage fishing traps. This has led to some fishermen resenting the otters and trying to harm them. As a result, otters have become entirely nocturnal to avoid humans,” he explained. Pranav’s team was the first to spot otters in Kondakarla Ava.
Back in 2021, Pranav and mammal expert Shekhar Kolipaka predicted that otters might move to other areas due to connected streams and water bodies. This recent sighting supports their prediction and highlights the need for surveys on otter habitats and threats to aid conservation efforts.
“The presence of otters shows a healthy ecosystem with plenty of freshwater fish, as otters mainly eat large fish. Clean, unpolluted waters support thriving otter populations. Otters are indicators of good water quality, reflecting the overall health of the ecosystem,” Pranav added.
Source: The New INDIAN EXPRESS
