Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

3. A feasibility study should be carried out to see whether irrigation systems developed near thebarrage can support otters and forage fish. If so, diversions of irrigation canal water could be madeto create otter havens.4. Educational material should be assembled to dispel the myth of the utility of the uterus and meat ofthe otter as a medicinal substance. Hunting otters for skins should also be discouraged.5. The Aquatic Animal Conservation Act of the Nepal Government should be enforced.North KoreaSpecies PresentThe Eurasian otter probably occurs, but there is no recent information.PakistanSpecies PresentSmooth otter, Eurasian otterStatus and DistributionThe Eurasian otter was once widely distributed in the rivers and streams of the northern part of thecountry. The smooth otter occurred over major parts of the Indus Plain and was quite common in theIndus River system in lakes, streams, and canals. Due to various factors, both species have now beenconfined to water reservoirs and some undisturbed remote areas, as described below.The smooth otter is common and found in Bannau and Dera Ismail Khan districts of North WestFrontier Province; Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan, and Khanewal districts of Punjab; andHyderabad and Sukkur districts of Sindh. Its population is mainly restricted to water reservoirs at damsand barrages.The Eurasian otter is rare and occurs in rivers and streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Mansehra districtsof North West Frontier Province. It also occurs in the Northern areas and Azad Kashmir. Itspopulation is restricted to remote areas away from human populations.Legal StatusBoth species are totally protected.Threats1. Construction of barrages has checked the natural flow of water in the rivers. Major parts of therivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlaj remain dry during most of the year, bearing no suitablehabitat for otters except water reservoirs at dams, barrages, and head works, where permanentwater is available.2. Overhunting: otters have been excessively harvested in the past, which has been one of the majorfactors contributing to their decline.3 Since otters are considered to be serious pests with regard to fisheries, they are often under extremepersecution by fishermen and owners of fish farms.Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Action Plan79