First photographic record of the presence of Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata in Ghaghra River, India

Abstract

The presence of Smooth-coated Otter was documented at two different locations in Ghaghra River, the transboundary tributary of river Ganga, during the rapid ecological assessment undertaken in the year 2019–2020. The distance between the two sightings along the river was 250 km. Smooth-coated Otters were photographed swimming near river banks and grooming themselves by rubbing their bodies on the sandbanks. These sightings (documented via photographs) are the first primary evidence of their presence from Ghaghra River, indicating its importance as a suitable habitat outside the protected area.