In a remarkable turn of events, a group of forest guards and members of the RESQ CT team successfully rescued an Eurasian Otter in Pune, marking the first recorded presence of this species in the district. The team, comprised of individuals such as Milind Shinde, Anant Hukire, and Nachiket Awadhani, worked tirelessly to devise a rescue plan and safely retrieve the otter using an auto-trap cage.
According to Mahadev Mohite, the Deputy Conservator of Forests in Pune, the sighting of the Eurasian Otter is unprecedented in the district. While smooth-coated otters have been recorded in the past, this is the first documented instance of an Eurasian Otter in the area. Efforts are now being made to trace the otter’s origin and plan for its future rehabilitation.
Neha Panchamiya, the Founder and President of RESQ Charitable Trust, provided insights into the otter’s current condition and care. The male sub-adult otter is being housed in a secure enclosure with a water body and ample hides to mimic its natural habitat. Continuous monitoring through remote vision cameras has shown that the otter is active at night, feeding well, and showing no major signs of injury.
The Eurasian Otter, a rare species in India, is primarily found in Europe and parts of Asia. Their preference for clean freshwater habitats makes sightings in India uncommon, with most occurrences restricted to the Himalayan foothills and parts of Northeast India. As an apex predator in river ecosystems, otters play a crucial role in regulating fish populations and maintaining ecological balance.
Overall, the successful rescue and rehabilitation of the Eurasian Otter in Pune is a significant achievement and a testament to the dedication and expertise of the rescue team members involved.
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