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Daily News Analysis » April 2024 » Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra): 15 April 2024

Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra): 15 April 2024

For the first time, Eurasian Otter was fitted with a tracking device in Satpura Tiger Reserve.

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Why in news?

For the first time, Eurasian Otter was fitted with a tracking device in Satpura Tiger Reserve.

More about news:

This was done by the Wildlife Conservation Trust.
This step focuses on understanding the distribution of otters with changing water availability and their conservation needs.

About Eurasian Otters:

- It is a semi-aquatic mammal native to Eurasia and Northwest Africa.

Habitat: Asia, Africa and North Europe.

- In India, it is distributed in the Himalayan foothills, Southern Western Ghats and the Central Indian region.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened.

- CITES: Appendix I.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II.

Otters in India:

Three species are found in India
Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata).
Asian small clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea).
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra ).
- Smooth-coated otter is the most widely distributed in India.
2016: First photographic evidence of Eurasian otters was recorded in Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Wildlife Conservation Trust:

2002: Established in Mumbai.
Not-for-profit organization.

Satpura Tiger Reserve:

2000: Establishment year.
- Located south of the Narmada river, Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
Flora: Teak, bamboo, Indian Ebony, various acacias, wild mango etc.
Fauna: Tiger, Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, birds, reptiles and fishes.