Eurasian Otter

Eurasian Otter

News: Recently, a team of researchers discovered a Eurasian otter in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki, a first in Kerala.

About:
• The Eurasian Otter, also known as the European Otter, Eurasian River Otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia. It belongs to the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae). This species is typically brown above and cream below, and these long, slender creatures are well-equipped for their aquatic habits.
• The Eurasian Otter is the most widely distributed otter species, found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. It inhabits unpolluted bodies of fresh water such as lakes, streams, rivers, canals, and ponds, as long as the food
supply is adequate.
• Conservation status - “Near Threatened” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)