Asia 

Asian Short Clawed Otter  (Amblonyx cinereus)

Asia is the home of five species of otter and more information is shown below:

Eurasian Otter  (Lutra lutra)

Smooth-coated Otter  (Lutra perspicillata)

Hairy-nosed Otter  (Lutra sumatrana)

Smooth-coated Otters are found in the southwest area of Yunnan province and the coastal area of Guandong.  The Eurasian Otter is widespread with five sub-species.  Asian Short-clawed Otters occur along the southern boundary of China.

Legal Protection: Listed under the Rare Species List.

Threats: Habitat destruction and illegal hunting have resulted in serious damage to the otter population.

Hong Kong

Species: Eurasian Otter.  

Thought to be extinct in the mid 1990s  the otter was sighted in the Mai Po Nature Reserve in 1998.

Legal Protection: Fully protected.

Threats: Hunting and habitat destruction.

India

Species: Eurasian, Asian Short-clawed and Smooth-coated Otter. 

All species are becoming rare outside the protected National Parks.  The Asian Short-clawed is the rarest and is found on the foothills of the Himalayas.  The Smooth-coated Otter is found throughout India and the Eurasian Otter occurs in the foothills of the western Himalayas and in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa in the south. (de Silva 2006)

Eurasian otters have been found in Lake Kribco near the city of Surat in South Gujarat.  It is believed that this is the only site for this otter in South Gujarat and the lake is now protected.  At times the otters move to another lake, Lake Gaver, which is about 6km away and this lake has been adopted by a non-governmental organisation, Nature Club Surat, for conservation of the wetlands - for further information  

Legal Protection: Asian Short-clawed is Schedule I and the Eurasian and Smooth-coated are Schedule II.

Threats: Habitat destruction, pollution and illegal hunting.

IOSF funded projects

1999 - Funded rehabilitation and release programme for a Smooth-coated Otter cub in Bangalore

Links

Wildlife Society of India

Hunting by professional poachers

Nature Club Surat

Indonesia

Species: Eurasian, Asian Short-clawed, Smooth-coated and the Hairy-nosed Otter. 

Hairy Nosed otter has been found recently (2003) in Sumba fresh waters, especially the Melolo river.  We received (2005) this picture of a hairy Nosed otter road kill  from Sumatra. The Smooth coated otter is rare (de Silva 2006))

Legal Protection: Protection for Eurasian and Hairy-nosed Otter only.

Threats: Pollution, habitat destruction and road mortality.

Web site

Indonesian otters

Iran

Species: Eurasian and Smooth-coated Otter?

The Eurasian Otter can be found in  rivers and lakes in the Zagros, Elburz and Koppe-Dagh mountain range and in the Iranian Azarbaiejan.  It is also possible that the otter is present on the south Caspian shore.  The Smooth- coated Otter may be present as it is common in Pakistan and Iraq.  In 1997 furs harvested on the Iran and Iraq border were from Smooth-coated Otters.

Legal Protection: No information.

Threats: Pollution, habitat destruction and road mortality.

Iraq

Species: Eurasian and Smooth-coated Otter.

Otters are present in the upper parts of the Euphrates river and it is possible that the species is in all major rivers from the northern frontiers to the Persian Gulf..  The Smooth Coated otter is present in the .Al-Dalmaj Wetlands and the 3rd River, fishermen see them quite often  Mudhafar (December 2007)The Iraq Marshlands Restoration Program is a two year effort which supports the restoration of the ecosystem through improved management and strategic reflooding and provides social and economic assistance to the local population. These two tracks – environmental and developmental – are necessarily integrated, reflecting the historic harmony of the marshlands and their indigenous population.  For more informatiion

Legal Protection: No information.

Threats: Not known.

Israel

Species: Eurasian Otter.

Until the middle of the 20th century otters were abundant in Israel in all coastal rivers from the Lebanese border in the north to the Soreq river in the south as well as along the Jordan river including the Hula Lake and the sea of  Galilee.  Surveys in the 1990s found it had virtually gone from the coastal areas with healthy populations in the Jordan river catchments including Lake Tiberias and an estimate of the total Israel population is only about 100.

Signs of otters have been found on three occasions in recent years - in 1986, 2000 and 2006. This probably indicates sporadic transient otters from the Lebanese coast, and may represent an important source of genetic variability for the largely isolated Israeli otter population.

IOSF has been trying to raise funds for a project in Israel.  Here is the latest update we have from our colleague Amit Dolev. 

“We understand that all the otter population (about 100-200 otters) in Israel is present only in one catchment system (Jordan river), without the ability to connect to historic population sites along the coastal plain.  Also genetic work suggests that the Israel population is possibly disconnected to the northern otter population and has a very low genetic variety.  This status of the otter population, with the lack of possibilities to widen their distribution area to nearby regions as wetlands are not abundant in Israel, convinces us of the importance of our work in order to conserve the otter in Israel.  It would seem that the only option is to translocate individuals to historic areas where otters have become extinct in recent decades.”  

If you would like to donate towards this project please send a cheque marked “Israel” on the back.

Legal Protection: Protected..

Threats: Pollution, habitat destruction and road mortality.

Japan

Thought extinct

The Japanease otter has not been seen since 1979, but thought to have become exticnt in the 1990's (IUCN 2007 Abstract)

Jordan

Species: Eurasian Otter. 

Declining and only found in the Jordan, Yarmouk and Zarka rivers.

Legal Protection: Protection.

Threats: Pollution and accidental deaths in fish traps.

Laos

Species: Eurasian, Asian Short-clawed, Smooth-coated and Hairy-nosed Otter.  (de Silva 2006)

Legal Protection: Protected.

Threats: Habitat destruction.

Lebanon

Species: Eurasian Otter. 

After an absence of nearly 40 years, the European Otter Lutra lutra has been seen at the Aammiq Wetland, A Rocha's study site in Lebanon. One of the reserve staff recently enjoyed a brief sighting, and in April, the visiting A Rocha France Scientific Officer, François Tron, found otter spraints. The otter's presence is a sign that this very important wetland is becoming increasingly significant for scarce mammals, amphibians, birds and other animals.

www.otterjoy.com

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Not known.

Malaysia

Species: Eurasian, Smooth-coated, Hairy-nosed and Asian Short-clawed Otter.

Only Short-clawed and Smooth-coated are found in peninsula Malaysia, while in eastern Malaysia all four species exist.  The Hairy-nosed Otter population occurs in peat swamp forest near Nenasi.

Legal Protection: Protected.

Threats: Habitat destruction and pesticides.

Mongolia

Species: Eurasian otter. 

Otters can be found in low numbers in two areas:  Northern Mongolia in the Shhshid river in the Khuvsgul provinces and eastern Mongolia in the Khalk gol and Numrug rivers in Dornod province.  (Enkhbold 2004)

Legal Protection: Fully protected since 1930.

Threats: Not known.

Myanmar (formerly Burma)

Species: Asian Short-clawed, Smooth-coated and Eurasian Otter.(de Silva 2006)

The Smooth-coated Otter is widely distributed but no other information is available.  

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Not known.

Nepal

Species: Smooth-coated Otter. 

Otters have declined in Nepal with the status of the Asian Short-clawed unknown (de Silva 2006) The Eurasian Otter has been found in Begnas and the Rupa lakes and the West Seti basin (de Silva 2006) The Smooth-coated Otter occurs in the rivers Karnali, Mahakali, Koshi and Narayani rivers.

Legal Protection: Fully protected.

Threats: Fishing conflicts, habitat destruction and disturbance.

IOSF funded projects:

2003 - Survey of the Smooth-coated Indian Otter (Lutra perspicillata) in the Karnali River of Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal 

North Korea

Species: Eurasian otter.

Otters are protected in three reserves:  Sinyang Otter Reserve, Daehung Otter Reserve and Popdong Otter Reserve.  Otters also inhabit the upper reaches of all the major north Korean rivers.

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Not known.

Pakistan

Species: Smooth-coated and Eurasian Otter. 

The Eurasian Otter is not common and occurs in the Northwest Frontier Province.  The Smooth-coated Otter is more common and can be found again in the Northwest Frontier Province. Good areas for the Smooth coated otter are Haleji, Hadero, kennjhar lake bufferzone, Zangi Nawar Lake,Ucchali, Khabbika, Jalar lake bufferzone,The Sind and Mekran coast, Indus Delta and River system and Rawal Lake.(de Silva 2006)

Legal Protection: Both species are fully protected.

Threats: Overhunting and damming of rivers.

Philippines

Species: Asian Short-clawed Otter. 

Occurs in estuaries, tidal areas and rivers throughout the Philippines.

Legal Protection: Fully protected.

Threats: Loss of habitat due to logging and mining.

Singapore

Species: Asian Short-clawed and Smooth-coated Otter.  ( Thought to be extinct (de Silva 2006))

Single Asian Short-clawed family lives on Pulau Tekong Besar, an island north east of the main island.  The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, at the northern edge of the country, is also part of the East Asian Migratory Flyway in which countless birds migrate each year from Siberia and China to Australia and New Zealand, and back again, it is the home for a family of Smooth coated otters.

Legal Protection: Fully protected.

Threats: Disturbance of waterways and mining activity.

Web site

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

South Korea

Species: Eurasian otter. 

Endangered and rare.

It is destributed in rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs.  Recently it has undergone a dramatic decline due to overhunting and habitat loss.(IUCN2007)

Legal Protection: Fully protected.

Threats: Not known.

Sri Lanka

Species: Eurasian otter. 

Once was widespread from sea level to the mountains but today very restricted. (de Silva 2006)

Legal Protection: Protected.

Threats: Pesticide pollution and hydro-electric dams.

Syria

Species: Eurasian otter. 

Found on the river Euphrates but numbers have dropped over the last 40 years following construction of the Tabagua dam.

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Hunting and dam construction.

Taiwan

Species: Eurasian otter. 

Reported in 1998 on Kinmen and Little Kinmen islands, Taiwan.

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Not known.

Thailand

Species: Eurasian, Asian Short-clawed, Smooth-coated and Hairy-nosed Otter.

The Hairy-nosed Otter was thought to be extinct in 1998 but a population was found in 1999 in the Toa Daeng peat swamp in southern Thailand.  The Eurasian Otter was thought to be extinct in 1990 but it was found in Uthai Thani province in southern Thailand in 1994.  The Asian Short-clawed is found in many National Parks throughout Thailand with large numbers in the western forested areas.(de Silva 2006)

The Smooth-coated Otter occurs in western and southern areas and is common in the Mekong delta.

Legal Protection: Protected.

Threats: Habitat destruction, illegal killing, pollution to waterways.

IOSF funded projects:

2001 - Hairy-nosed otter project in Thailand

2001 - First pictures of Hairy-nosed Otter in Thailand.

Vietnam

Species: Eurasian, Asian Short-clawed, Smooth-coated and Hairy-nosed Otter.(de Silva 2006)

Otters occur throughout the country in a variety of habitats, but all four species are threatened and need urgent conservation measures.

Otter distribution maps ( From Small carnivores in Vietnam, September 2004)

Asian Short clawed              Eurasian                  Smooth coated         Hairy Nosed (In black)

Legal Protection: Not known.

Threats: Habitat destruction due to Vietnam war - even now there are still effects from the use of Agent Orange.  Illegal killing by fishermen, pollution to waterways.

IOSF funded projects

Results of the Hairy-nosed Otter project in Vietnam

Funding wanted for Vietnam Otter research

Web site

IUCN/SSC  Asian otter Section

Ecology Asia