Recent record of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mustellidae) from Kerala part of the Western Ghats, India and an insight into the behaviour and habitat preferences

Abstract

We report a recent record of the elusive Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra from Kerala, through a direct observation in the higher reaches of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary within the Western Ghats, southern India. Field observation involved the sighting of two Eurasian Otters in a rocky-torrential stream in March 2020. The otters displayed a hyperactive foraging behaviour, searching among submerged rocks and crevices, followed by occasional dives. They seemed particularly interested in areas where water rushed with force, avoiding locations with low water flow or shallow pools. The observation site, at 1,275 m altitude in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala region, featured wet evergreen vegetation, transitional sholas (stunted evergreen forests), and riparian patches along a stream characterised by rapid water flow, boulders, and fallen trees. This habitat, as observed by others, was also indicative of Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus suitability, suggesting potential resource partitioning between the two otter species. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the preferred habitat of Eurasian Otters in the Western Ghats and emphasizes the need for comprehensive research on the taxonomy, distribution, population status, and behaviour of these possibly sympatric species of otters, the Asian Small-clawed Otter and the Eurasian Otter. Such studies are crucial for the conservation of both these species, which face threats from habitat loss, sand mining, hunting, and population decline. Preserving and restoring riparian vegetation in the higher reaches of the Western Ghats is essential for their protection within this biodiversity hotspot.