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

NEAR THREATENED
48) Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Names
Eurasian Otter (English); Kalo Oat (Nepali)
Synonyms
Lutra nippon (Imaizumi & Yoshiyuki, 1989)
Species Description
This species has a course, dusky brown coat that
looks scruffy when wet. Its underside is light grey
and often has dark spots on its lips and nose.
Species Ecology
The Eurasian Otter mainly lives in streams and
lakes. During summer (April - June) this species
may occur up to 3,660 m, following the upward
migration of spawning fish, in winter they return to
lower elevations. Fish is the major prey of Eurasian
Otter, sometimes exceeding more than 80% of their
diet, but they also feed on aquatic insects, reptiles,
amphibians, birds, small mammals, and crustaceans.
Female reach sexual maturity at two years, and after
a gestation period of approximately 63 to 65 days,
produce a litter between one to five pups.
Conservation Status
Global: Near Threatened
National: Near Threatened
Rationale for assessment: The Eurasian Otter (Lutra
lutra) has been nationally assessed as Near
Threatened in view of a suspected declining
population that may consist of between 1,000-4,000
individuals, the lower end of which would qualify
it for a threatened category under criterion D.
Disturbances to the species’ habitat, including
over-fishing, pollution of waterways and dam
construction, are likely to be affecting this species,
however further information on its distribution and
status is required. It may already qualify as
Vulnerable under criterion C, however further
evidence is required to establish whether this
species will decline by 10% over the next 10 years.
It may also qualify as Vulnerable under criterion B
based on a restricted extent of occupancy or area of
occurrence. Further research is necessary to
establish whether this species indeed should be
listed in a threatened category.
Legal Status
Appendix I CITES
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within a number of
protected areas.
National Population Size
Total: 1,000 - 4,000 (estimated)
There are no comprehensive status surveys for this
species in Nepal. However, a survey by Acharya and
Gurung (1994) concluded that the species was still
common in a lake area of 46 km 2 in western Nepal.
Population estimates of between 1,000 and 4,000
animals were based on interviews with local people.
National Distribution
This species occurs has been reported from the
Rupa and Begnas Lakes of Pokhara valley and in
approximately 21 districts in Nepal: Saptari, Sunsari,
Chitwan, Bardia, Kapilvastu, Bara, Kailali,
Kanchanpur, Kaski, Bajhang, Bajura, Ilam, Panchther,
Taplejung, Gorkha, Lamjung, Myagdi, Mugu,
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