What is Eurasian Otter?

About Eurasian Otter:

• It is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal native to Eurasia.
• Scientific Name: Lutra lutra
• Distribution:
  • It has one of the widest distributions of all Palearctic mammals, from Ireland to China and down to Southeast Asia.
  • It lives throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
  • In India, it occurs in northern, northeastern, and southern India.
• Habitat:
  • It inhabits streams, rivers, lakes, freshwater and peat swamp forests, ocean shores, rice fields, fjords, caves, and other terrestrial habitats close by waterways.
  • In the Indian subcontinent, it is found in cold hills and mountain streams.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Near threatened
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II
  • CITES:  Appendix I

Key Facts about Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS):

• Location:
  • It is located in Idukki District, Kerala.
  • It lies in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and receives very less rainfall every year.
• The south side of the sanctuary is covered by Eravikulam National park, and the north side is by Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Vegetation:
  • It has a wide array of habitat types, like deciduous forests, dry thorn scrub, riparian forest, shoals, and grasslands.
• There is an extensive sandalwood forest nearby the sanctuary.
• Flora:
  • Chinnar has about 1000 species of flowering plants and a wide variety of medicinal plants.
  • The major species of flora include Acacia arabica, Acacia leucofolia, Acacia concinna, antallum album, Anogeissus latifolia, Rhododendron nilagiricum, Elaeocarpus, etc.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to the endangered Great Grizzled Squirrel of India.
  • Other important mammals that you can see here are the elephant, tiger, leopard, guar, sambar, spotted deer, Nilgiri Tahr, etc.