Saving the Karnali otters

If visitors to the Bardia National Park are lucky, they can sometimes spot a bevy of otters frolicking with their pups along the Karnali River. Or they might be out fishing, brown fur gleaming in the sun as they emerge from the water with a fish in the mouth.

But on a recent daytime visit to the national park in Kailali, there was no such luck. All that pointed to their presence were tracks on the sand by the banks of the Karnali (pictured, below). 

When it comes to wildlife, the news cycle in Nepal is dominated by tigers and rhinos, and their conservation success stories. This means other endangered mammals like pangolins and otters remain in the shadows. 

Many Nepalis are not even aware that otters exist in Nepal. There are three species found here: the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), and Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus). All are usually nocturnal, or most active at dawn or dusk to avoid predators like crocodiles, tigers, and leopards.

Otter species found in Nepal prefer freshwater ecosystems along fast flowing Himalayan rivers and the wetlands that they feed. The Asian Small-clawed Otter feeds on crabs and mollusks, the Smooth-coated otter, primarily found in rivers of Karnali and Narayani, preys on fish, playing a crucial role in maintaining balance in the aquatic ecosystem. 

Their dependence on clean water makes otters bioindicators, which means their abundance shows a healthy ecosystem and unpolluted water bodies. 

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“Otters hunt in the water, but they spend most of their time on land, often along the boulders and sand on the banks,” explains Arun Sonaha, otter conservation expert from the indigenous Sonaha community.

Otter scat contributes to nutrient cycling as well as the fertilisation of riverbanks and wetlands, indirectly promoting vegetation. Smooth-coated Otters and Asian small-clawed Otters prefer lowland habitats. The former have adapted to survive in human-altered landscapes, and have been found to reside in rice fields and irrigation canals. 

However, Eurasian Otters adapt to seasonal changes by moving up to 3,660m during the summer, and migrating to lower elevations in the winter.

The presence of Eurasian Otters has been recorded in 24 districts across Nepal, while the Smooth-coated and Asian Small-clawed species have been documented in 12 districts. Otters have been spotted in the Karnali, Narayani, Kosi, and Mahakali river systems. The smallest of the 13 known otter species, Asian Small-clawed otters, were recorded in Nepal for the first time in 185 years earlier this year in February in Dadeldhura. 

“We track the movement of Smooth-coated Otters using 18 camera traps in Bardia,” explains Aashish Kapali from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal.

Smooth-coated otters have still been observed in healthy numbers along the Karnali, but the otter population is in decline. The smooth-coated otter and Asian small-clawed are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List, while the Eurasian Otter is ‘near endangered’. 

River damming, indiscriminate and illegal fishing, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather, rapid urbanisation in Nepal’s lowlands have contributed to loss of otter habitats and depletion of food sources. Pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste has also added to habitat degradation while pesticides have directly impacted their prey population.

“The pesticides sprayed on fields drain into the rivers, affecting the fish population,” says Kapali. “This reverberates across the food chain and affects otter numbers.” 

Until a few years ago, otter poaching also ran rampant. Between 1989 and 2017, 755 otter pelts were confiscated in Nepal but communities living along the Karnali have since stepped up efforts to protect the mammals. “Our continuous conservation efforts have meant that we currently do not have issues with poaching,” says Sonaha.

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Community members are also working to revive the indigenous knowledge about over-fishing, and they also get skills training for alternative livelihoods. 

“The training not only enables us to earn a living but also helps us conserve otters,” says Buddhi Singh Tharu, chair of Himal Samuha community group for otter conservation.

Fishing in the river is still allowed, but it must be done in a way that ensures smaller fish and tadpoles, the primary prey for otters, are not caught. “We use fishing nets that allow smaller fish to escape so that numbers in the river are balanced and under control,” explains Tharu.

Across Kailali and Bardia, 15 Community River Stretch Management Groups have been established to conserve Smooth-coated otters. Women have been significantly more active in otter conservation efforts, with a 68% participation rate. Sudha Chaudhary, 45, was once a fisher, but now has transitioned to chili and tomato farming with support from WWF Nepal and believes that conserving otters is essential for maintaining and sustaining the Karnali ecosystem.

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Meanwhile, despite constant monitoring, sand mining and inadequate waste management continue in the Karnali, including by local officials, destroying otter habitats. Community conservation groups here have expressed concerns about municipal authorities dumping waste near the Karnali River.

However, experts also point to a lack of policies when it comes to otter conservation. While the Aquatic Animal Protection Act of 1961 and the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1973 exist, they are inadequate for the conservation of these vulnerable semi-aquatic animals. Talks are underway for the government to approve a new action plan for otter conservation.

For now, conservationists emphasise the need for human-wildlife coexistence to foster sustainable ecosystems that protect Nepal’s biodiversity, to achieve which continued community conservation, education and awareness efforts are crucial.

Says Tharu: “It is our responsibility to conserve otters to ensure their survival for generations to come.”