Fishers knew of elusive mammal in India park. It’s photographed for first time
When researchers were conducting a field survey in Papikonda National Park in India in 2024, they noticed a small mammal sitting on the bank of the Godavari River.
The animal was resting as the water flowed in front of it, until a minute later when it was gone.
Luckily, the research team snapped two photos of the animal before it disappeared under the surface of the water.
It would turn out to be the first time this species has ever been photographed in the park.
The photos captured a smooth-coated otter, a vulnerable species found in southern Asia, according to a study published Sept. 26 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa.
“While anecdotal accounts and local reports have suggested the presence of otters in this area, no visual or photographic documentation had previously confirmed their existence,” researchers said. “During field assessments, consultations were conducted with forest officials, and local fishing communities, both of whom were familiar with the species but reported infrequent sightings, indicating its rarity in the area.”
Smooth-coated otters can be found in aquatic systems ranging from rivers and lakes to paddy fields and mangroves, according to the study.
They are one of three otter species that live in India, joined by the Asian small-clawed otter and the Eurasian otter, researchers said.
The species is currently listed as “vulnerable,” according to the IUCN Red List, and is protected under India law, according to the study.
“The smooth-coated otter is facing significant threats due to habitat loss, poaching, pollution and eutrophication, which may lead to population declines exceeding 30%,” researchers said.
This is important not just for the otters, but for the ecosystem they call home.
The otters feed primarily on fish and can have a sizable impact on fish populations, including those that are also threatened by human factors, researchers said.
“With 89 fish species from 26 families, the Godavari River is an essential feeding environment,” according to the study.
“This observation not only confirms the presence of this elusive and ecologically sensitive species in the Polavaram Forest Range of Papikonda National Park but may also extend the known geographic distribution range of this species in this stretch of the Godavari River,” according to the study. “The sighting underscores the significant gap in our understanding of freshwater biodiversity in this region.”
Smooth-coated otters can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh as much as 22 pounds, according to the International Otter Survival Fund.
They typically live in groups of 10 to 20 otters, made up of adults, sub-adults and babies, or cubs. They can be found as far west as Afghanistan and as far east as Malaysia, according to the fund.
Papikonda National Park is in east-central India.
The research team includes Arun Kumar Gorati, Ritesh Vishwakarma, Anukul Nath and Parag Nigam.
This story was originally published September 26, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
