Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:44am on 27 Jul 2025,Sunday India
Eurasian otters, once believed extinct in Kashmir, have resurfaced with three sightings since 2023, exciting conservationists and locals. A video captured by a teen in Hugam, Anantnag, shows one otter paddling in the Lidder River before vanishing into the bushes. Wildlife officials confirm sightings in two locations, suggesting improved habitats or reduced poaching. Biologist Nisarg Prakash says their return signals healthier ecosystems. Protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, otters were once common in Himalayan waters but disappeared due to construction and habitat loss. Now, their reappearance offers hope for the region’s fragile aquatic biodiversity and renewed focus on conservation. (PC: X)
