Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2025 | 17(8): 27400–27402
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9689.17.8.27400-27402
#9689 | Received 10 April 2025 | Final received 22 May 2025 | Finally
accepted 30 June 2025
First confirmed sighting of the
elusive Eurasian Otter in Goa, India
Abhijeet Patil
1, Shricharan Desai 2, Swanand Patil 3 & Mirjoy
Mathew 4
1,4 Planetlife Foundation, Nature’s Nest
Resorts, Mollem, Goa 403601, India.
2 Study and Awareness of Wildlife
and Environment (SAWE), Khadpabandh, Ponda, Goa 403401, India.
3 Arcane Conservancy Trust, Mumbai,
Maharashtra 400028, India.
1 abhijeetpatil8427@gmail.com, 2
charandesai@gmail.com, 3 swanandpatil6@gmail.com
(corresponding author),
4 mathewmirjoy@gmail.com
Editor: Chetan Nag K S. Nag,
CUBEC, Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, India. Date of publication: 26 August
2025 (online & print)
Citation: Patil, A., S. Desai, S. Patil
& M. Mathew (2025). First confirmed sighting of the elusive
Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra
in Goa, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(8): 27400–27402. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9689.17.8.27400-27402
Copyright: © Patil et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We acknowledge Abhijeet Patil (Nature’s Nest Goa) and Rescuer Shricharan Desai for their prompt rescue efforts. We also acknowledge the Arcane Conservancy Trust for their expertise in species identification. Dr. Charmina Pinto and her veterinary staff for their assistance in treating the rescued individual. We would also like to thank Goa Forest Department for their support.
Abstract: Otters are semi-aquatic carnivores
that play a vital role in maintaining the balance of freshwater ecosystems.
India is home to three species of otters: the
Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, the Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus, and
the Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra. In Goa, only the Smooth-coated Otter and the
Asian Small-clawed Otter had been previously recorded. Our discovery has
confirmed the presence of the Eurasian Otter in Goa, expanding its known
distribution. This ground-breaking finding was made on 14 February 2025, when
an injured otter was found near Dharbandoda, Goa.
Upon examination, the presence of a distinctive W-shaped or zig-zag patterned
rhinarium confirmed that the otter was indeed a Eurasian Otter. Unfortunately,
the otter was later declared dead. This discovery highlights the rich
biodiversity of Goa and emphasizes the need for further research and
conservation efforts to protect these elusive creatures and their habitats.
Keywords: Dharbandoda, freshwater ecosystem, otter
distribution, semi-aquatic carnivore, Western Ghats.
Otters are indicators of healthy
aquatic ecosystems, playing a key role for maintaining land water continuum.
The Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra has been recorded across northern, central,
western, and eastern India, particularly in the Kashmir, Himalayan foothills,
and parts of the Western Ghats (Joshi et al. 2016; Mudappa
et al. 2018; Palei et al. 2021; Jamwal
et al. 2023; Mohsin et al. 2024). Until now, there were no confirmed records of
this species in Goa. Previous studies have only reported the presence of the Smooth-coated
Otter L. perspicillata and the Asian
Small-clawed Otter A. cinereus (Borker et al. 2014). The Otter population in Goa may face a
range of anthropogenic threats, including unregulated mining, and riverbank
modifications all of which degrade the riparian habitats. Increasing tourism
pressure, night-time vehicular traffic, and encroachment on wetland habitats
may also contribute to disturbance, and habitat fragmentation. This paper
documents the first scientific record of Lutra
lutra in Goa and discusses its significance.
Observation and
Details
On 14 February 2025, an otter was
discovered lying on the roadside near Dharbandoda,
Goa (15.4001° N, 74.1307° E). Dharbandoda is a small
settlement located near the western edge of Bhagwan
Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. The surrounding habitat includes semi-evergreen
forest patches, agricultural, and some closed stone quarries, with seasonal
streams & rivulets connected with Ragada River
eventually connecting to Zuari River basin.
The individual had sustained an
injury near its mouth but was still breathing heavily. Wildlife rescuer Charan, along with Abhijeet Patil
from Nature’s Nest Goa, promptly transported the otter to a veterinary hospital
for medical attention. On arrival at the veterinary facility, the otter was
found to be semi-conscious, and unresponsive to stimuli. A visible laceration
was observed at the lower jawline. The injury appeared to be consistent with
trauma, possibly due to vehicular collision, as inferred from the roadside
location, and absence of other wounds.
During treatment, a critical
morphological characteristic—the W-shaped or zig-zag rhinarium (the furless
skin surface surrounding the external openings of the nostrils)—was observed,
confirming the species as Lutra lutra (Blanford 1888; Mudappa et al. 2018), a trait diagnostic of Lutra lutra. The
confirmation was based on existing identification guides and previous
morphological studies of otters in India. For external expert consultation, the
photos were sent to the members of the International Otter Survival Fund
(IOSF), who also confirmed the species to be Eurasian Otter. However, due to
the emergency nature of the case and the otter’s condition, molecular
identification could not be carried out at the time. Later on
15 February 2025, early morning the Otter was declared dead. Apart from
photographic documentation, no other biological samples were preserved
post-mortem due to lack of permission for collection, and sample storage.
This marks the first
scientifically documented record of Lutra lutra in Goa. The record is significant because:
It confirms the presence of all three otter
species found in Goa—a state known for its rich riparian and estuarine
ecosystems.
It suggests the need for further otter surveys in the region, as the
species might have been overlooked due to its elusive nature, and nocturnal habits.
Discussion
Although Goa does not currently
have a formal otter-specific conservation program, otter habitats benefit
indirectly from protection within areas like Bhagwan
Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mollem National Park.
Large parts of riparian habitats remain unprotected and vulnerable to
degradation, calling for targeted conservation interventions. These findings
can help inform state wildlife authorities and local conservation agencies by
highlighting the need to include otters in existing freshwater ecosystem protection
plans. It also calls for immediate identification and protection of critical
river stretches where Eurasian Otters may persist, through habitat mapping,
community engagement, and stricter regulation of harmful activities like sand
mining. As a direct follow-up, we propose initiating a seasonal otter
monitoring program in eastern Goa through camera trapping and sign-based
surveys, coupled with community interviews.
Conclusion
This report establishes the first
record of Lutra lutra
in Goa and confirms that the state home to all three otter
species. This record underscores the conservation value of Goa’s freshwater
systems and suggests that even small, forest-adjacent rivers may harbour elusive species like L. lutra.
Recognizing and protecting such microhabitats is essential for preventing
local extinctions. The detection of Eurasian Otters in Goa not only expands the
known distribution range of the species but also indicates the ecological
integrity of Goa’s riparian corridors and highlights the role of these
landscapes in supporting keystone carnivore species.
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