Known as neer naai (aquatic canines) in Tamil, the animal performs an necessary function in controlling the inhabitants of fish in rivers
Known as neer naai (aquatic canines) in Tamil, the animal performs an necessary function in controlling the inhabitants of fish in rivers
A seek for a migratory stork within the Upper Anaicut near Mukkombu (on the street resulting in the Butterfly Park) turned up one other shock customer as a substitute for town’s nature lovers just lately — the smooth-coated otter, a freshwater fish-loving animal that hasn’t been seen alongside the Cauvery river stretch for a few years.
“We thought they were crows at first, but when we looked more closely, we realised it was a group of eight smooth-coated otters rolling around on the sandbank,” stated A. Relton, affiliate professor and head, Department of Social Work, Bishop Heber College, who was a part of the workforce led by the establishment’s Nature Club on Sunday.
When noticed, the otters had been rubbing themselves with ‘spraint’ or their very own faeces, which is a peculiar a part of the animals’ grooming behaviour and a technique of olfactory communication, Mr. Relton informed The Hindu.
Listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, the animals generally happen in shallow and placid waters similar to wetlands and seasonal swamps, rivers, lakes, and rice paddies. They are energetic throughout evening and day, and are sturdy swimmers.
Known as neer naai (aquatic canines) in Tamil, the animal performs an necessary function in controlling the inhabitants of fish in rivers, stated Mr. Relton. “Even though humans are fishing commercially, otters do this naturally. In fact the human impact of overfishing and depletion of water resources has caused the disappearance of smooth-coated otters from the freshwater bodies in the country,” he stated. The animals are additionally illegally hunted for his or her pelt.
In the Cauvery delta, the drying out of riverbeds lately has pushed away these animals. Significantly, the countrywide inhabitants of the otters stays undocumented.
Video clips shared by the Nature Club confirmed the otters swimming within the river in V-formation, led by a dominant male. “We identified four young and three females in the group. The swimming method is meant to narrow down the fishing area and prevent fish from escaping,” he stated.
Besides the smooth-coated otter ( Lutra perspicillata), India is house to 2 extra of the 13 species discovered worldwide. These are Eurasian Otter (L utra lutra) and Small-clawed otter (A onyx cinereus).
Mr. Relton stated that Nature Club would quickly be setting out for an additional expedition to look out for smooth-coated otters. “More people should be made aware of this animal in our ecosystem,” he stated.
- A seek for a migratory stork within the Upper Anaicut near Mukkombu turned up one other shock customer as a substitute for town’s nature lovers just lately — the smooth-coated otter.
- Known as neer naai (aquatic canines) in Tamil, the animal performs an necessary function in controlling the inhabitants of fish in rivers.
- In the Cauvery delta, the drying out of riverbeds lately has pushed away these animals. Significantly, the countrywide inhabitants of the otters stays undocumented.
