The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

67
34) Lutrogale perspicillata
(I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826)
Common Names
Smooth-coated Otter (English); Khairo Oat (Nepali)
Synonyms
Lutra perspicillata (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1826)
Species Description
Chocolate brown coat. Underside lighter, paws dark
brown but lighter than the body. Differs from the
Eurasian Otter in having V-shaped nostrils and a
flatter tail towards the tip.
Species Ecology
The Smooth-coated Otter occurs along large
rivers, lakes and rice fields. The preferred riparian
vegetation is dominated by Common Reed
(Phragmites karka) and Kans Grass (Saccharum
spontaneum). The Smooth-coated Otter is
predominantly a fish eater, but supplements its diet
with shrimp, crayfish, crab and insects, and other
vertebrates such as frogs, mudskippers, birds and
rats.
Knowledge of the breeding behaviour of this
species is based on observations of captive animals
where individuals attained sexual maturity at
twenty-two months.
Conservation Status
Global: Vulnerable A2acd
National: Endangered C1
Rationale for assessment: The Smooth-coated
Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) has been assessed
as Endangered under criterion C in view of a small
population estimated to consist of fewer than
1,000 individuals and anticipated future population
declines. The threats to this species continue and
include lack of waste management of the waterways
which affects both the species’ habitat as well as the
entire freshwater ecosystem, over-exploitation of
fish and poaching for fur. It is anticipated that these
threats will cause further population declines of at
least 20% over five years. This species does exist in
areas of suitable habitat in neighbouring countries;
however, hydropower schemes and disruption to
the waterways is likely to prevent significant
movement of this species.
Legal Status
CITES Appendix II
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
Total: < 1,000 (estimated)
Trend: Decreasing
This species is considered rare and recent
population estimates range from 200 to 1,000
individuals. This species has been observed as
undergoing a rapid population decline in recent
years.
National Distribution
Direct observations are said to be rare and only
from Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park
and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve. This species has
previously been recorded within the protected areas
of Annapurna Conservation Area, Bardia National
Park, Chitwan National Park, Koshi Tappu Wildlife
Reserve, Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve certain
areas of Banke, Dang and Kapilvastu (around Rapti
and other local river systems), Ghodaghodi Lake and
rivers in Kailali, wetlands in Kanchanpur, Beeshazari
lake and other wetlands of Chitwan, outside
Annapurna Conservation Area in Lamjung,
Nawalparari and around Koshi River and
surrounding areas in Saptari and Sunsari.