A phone call interrupted Aashish Kapali’s quiet afternoon. The voice on the other end was urgent: “There’s a body of an otter floating by the riverbank.” As a program associate at the Freshwater Program under the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Tikapur, Kailali, Kapali knew this was a serious matter. Without hesitation, he rushed to the site.
When he arrived, the body had already been pulled to shore by the local monitoring group. With a heavy heart, Kapali approached, preparing for the worst. However, upon closer inspection, he exhaled in relief. “It’s not an otter,” he announced. “It might be a dog or another wild animal.”
He explains that otters can be identified by their unique tails, which are typically long and muscular, helping them swim and paddle efficiently in the river. However, this one has a thin tail, which is unusual for an otter. The group was surprised, but their diligence was not in vain. The fact that they had promptly reported a suspected otter death highlighted their dedication to the conservation efforts underway.
A disappearing presence
Otters, members of the mustelid family, are shy, elusive creatures. Nepal is home to three species: the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), the smooth-coated otter (Lutra perspicillata), and the small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). The smooth-coated otter, the primary focus of conservation efforts, is found along the Karnali River and its tributaries. Though once abundant, their numbers have dwindled, with many locals claiming they were far more common in their grandparents’ time.
Although smooth-coated otters are recorded in areas like Karnali, Bardia National Park, and Shuklaphanta National Park, their exact distribution remains unclear due to limited surveys. Listed on the IUCN Red List, their populations are believed to be declining, particularly in the western channel of the Karnali River.
Fishermen like Arun Sonaha, 27, from Rajapur, recall days when otters could be seen, playing and fishing alongside them. “They were not afraid of us,” he says. “But now, it’s rare to see even one.” The decline of otters is attributed to habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing, and retaliatory killings by fishermen who see otters as competition.
Conflict and coexistence
For generations, the Sonaha and Tharu communities have relied on the Karnali River for their livelihood. Fishing is a deeply rooted tradition, but it has led to unintended consequences. Otters, drawn to the easy meals, frequently enter dhaduwa (overnight fish traps) to eat the trapped fish, damaging the nets in the process. This has led to frustration and retaliatory actions, including the killing of otter pups and the destruction of their nests.
“In my grandfather’s time, otters used to hold some cultural significance due to their perceived similarities with Guruwa – traditional healers or shamans of the Tharu communities,” Ram Swarup Chaudhary, a staffer at the Dolphin Conservation Center of WWF in Bhanjani, Kailali said. He shared his grandfather’s observations: “Among a group of otters, one would dance or move along the riverbank while the others remained still. When the dancing otter entered the river, the rest would follow. This behavior resembled the rituals of the Guruwa.
Ram Swarup recalled that during his grandfather’s and father’s time, otters were abundant in the western channel of the Karnali River and were frequently sighted by fishermen. While hunting and poaching for otter fur were rare, retaliatory attacks were more common. “Some households still keep otter fur, believed to have medicinal and healing properties,” he added.
Today, however, otter sightings have become rare. “I have never seen one myself,” Ram Swarup admitted. “Most sightings are reported by fishermen who work during dawn and dusk, when otters are most active.”
According to Kapali, the decline in otter populations is largely due to the diminishing fish stocks in the Karnali River, caused by overfishing, pollution, and riverbed mining, which destroy and damage otter habitats.
“To protect the otters and their habitats, it is essential to address the over-dependence of local communities on the river for their livelihoods, which has contributed to the decline in fish populations and other ecological issues.”
Community-led conservation efforts
To address these challenges, WWF Nepal, in collaboration with local partners, has launched the project “Strengthening Communities’ Livelihood and Stewardship to Conserve Otters in Karnali.” Funded by the UK Government through the Darwin Initiative, the project aims to reduce local dependence on river resources by providing alternative livelihood options. It targets six conservation hotspots, forming 15 Community River Stretch Management Groups (CRSMGs) with 375 members-68% of whom are women. It focuses on community-based river management, livelihood diversification, and otter habitat conservation. Its goals are to protect otter populations and improve the lives of the indigenous Tharu and Sonaha communities. To ensure sustainability, CRSMGs monitor a 1–2.5 km stretch of the river, advise fishermen on sustainable practices, and document fish populations. Their advice includes using larger mesh nets to prevent juvenile fish from being caught, allowing fish stocks to replenish.
“We can only advise, not enforce,” admitted Buddhisingh Tharu from the Himal Community River Stretch Management Group. “But we see change. Around 50 fishermen have already switched to larger mesh nets.”
To raise awareness, the project launched an otter mascot named “Sakhi” (meaning “friend” in Tharu) and selected 45 Otter Champions to lead community-based conservation efforts. These initiatives aim to reduce the reliance of the Sonaha and Tharu communities on river resources, particularly unsustainable fishing practices. It provides training, technical support, and access to finance for market-based enterprises, helping communities diversify their livelihoods.
Building new futures
Arun Sonaha, also one of the otter champions, echoed this sentiment. “Fishing is our tradition, but we must be responsible. I’ve seen the decline myself. I used to catch large fish easily; now, even a one-kilogram catch is rare.”
Kapali frequently receives reports from “Otter Champions”-local youth conservationists trained by the project. Arun, who lives along an otter hotspot, often provides valuable insights. Camera traps placed based on his tips have captured evidence of otter activity, although the animals’ sensitivity to infrared makes them hard to record.
“We see them at night while fishing,” Arun noted. “They do their thing, we do ours. We rarely interfere. But there are fewer now. Human activity has disrupted their habitat.” Thanks to the project’s livelihood program, Arun has opened a riverside restaurant, reducing his reliance on fishing…