‘Elusive’ creature found on rural road in India marks first-of-its-kind sighting
In February, wildlife rescuers responded to reports of an injured animal lying on the side of a rural road in southwestern India.
When they arrived in Dharbandoda, a “small settlement” near the edge of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, they found an otter, alive, but injured, according to a study published Aug. 26 in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
The team took the animal to a veterinary hospital where, in the course of evaluating and treating the otter, experts noticed a “critical” physical trait — a clue to its true identity.
The “W” or “zig-zag” shape of the top of its nose identified the creature as the “elusive” Lutra lutra, or Eurasian otter, researchers said.
While the species has been reported in other parts of India, particularly in the “Kashmir, Himalayan foothills, and part of the Western Ghats,” it has never been confirmed in the state of Goa, according to the study.
There are three known otter species throughout India: The smooth-coated otter, the Asian small-clawed otter and the Eurasian Otter. The sighting now confirms all three species are present in Goa, according to researchers.
The otter population in Goa is facing threats due to unregulated mining; riverbank modifications and habitat degradation; increased tourism, which leads to more nighttime traffic; and encroachment on wetlands, researchers said.
The otter died from its injuries a day later, but researchers said its discovery is a catalyst for targeted conservation efforts in the region.
The ordeal highlights “the need to include otters in existing freshwater ecosystem protection plans,” researchers said.
The study “calls for immediate identification and protection of critical river stretches where Eurasian Otters may persist, through habitat mapping, community engagement, and stricter regulation of harmful activities like sand mining.”
“Recognizing and protecting such microhabitats is essential for preventing local extinctions,” researchers said.
Researchers propose beginning a “seasonal otter monitoring program in eastern Goa through camera trapping and sign-based surveys, coupled with community interviews,” according to the study.
The research team included Abhijeet Patil, Shricharan Desai, Swanand Patil and Mirjoy Mathew.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM with the headline "‘Elusive’ creature found on rural road in India marks first-of-its-kind sighting."
