Rare Eurasian Otter Rescued in Pune’s Indapur, Marking First-Ever Sighting in the Region
Indapur, 11th November 2024: A rescue operation led by the Pune Forest Department, in collaboration with the RESQ Charitable Trust, has uncovered an unexpected wildlife discovery in the Indapur area of Pune District. A Eurasian Otter, a species never before recorded in the region, was found during a rescue mission originally aimed at saving a civet from a deep well.
The operation unfolded when forest guards and RESQ team members responded to an emergency call about a civet trapped in the well. However, upon arrival, it became clear that the situation was more complex. Forest personnel Milind Shinde, Anant Hukire, Shubham Kadu, and Shubham Dhaitonde, alongside RESQ Charitable Trust members Nachiket Awadhani, Prashant Kaulkar, and Dr. Shreekanth Deshmukh, quickly re-evaluated the situation. They discovered that the trapped animal was actually an otter, not a civet.
“We had prepared for a civet rescue, but the otter’s discovery was completely unexpected,” said Milind Shinde, a local forest guard. “We used an auto-trap cage to safely catch the animal, which was unable to escape from the well on its own. After waiting patiently for nearly six hours, the otter entered the cage.”
Once the otter was safely contained, it was transferred to a RESQ ambulance and transported to the Wildlife Transit Treatment Centre in Bavdhan, Pune, where it arrived by midnight. There, veterinary professionals began assessing its condition.
The sighting of the Eurasian Otter is a significant moment for Pune District, as it marks the first recorded appearance of this species in the area. Mahadev Mohite, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune (Territorial), expressed his excitement about the discovery: “This is a landmark event for us. While the Smooth-coated Otter has been recorded in the district in the past, the Eurasian Otter’s presence is unprecedented. We are working with the RESQ team to investigate the otter’s origin and will conduct further surveys to better understand its movements and habitat.”
Neha Panchamiya, Founder and President of RESQ Charitable Trust, shared an update on the otter’s rehabilitation: “The otter we rescued is a male sub-adult. He is currently housed in a secure enclosure with a water body and other environmental enrichments to help him feel at home. We are closely monitoring his recovery with remote cameras and are pleased to report that he is feeding well and displaying healthy behavior. Our team will conduct a full medical evaluation once he has settled in.”
The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), one of the three otter species found in India, is typically found in clean, freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes. It is known for being elusive and nocturnal, often avoiding human interaction. Although common in parts of Europe and Asia, the Eurasian Otter is a rare sight in India, with sightings primarily in the Himalayan foothills, parts of Northeast India, and the Western Ghats. This species is an apex predator in its ecosystem, playing a critical role in maintaining the balance of fish populations and waterway health.
The discovery of the Eurasian Otter in Pune is not only a rare event for the region but also a reminder of the delicate state of wildlife in India, where the presence of certain species is becoming increasingly scarce due to habitat disturbance and pollution.
