For the first time in Ranthambore National Park, Otter appeared with the whole family. Otter appeared behind the small cenotaph (Chhoti Chhatri) in Zone 3 of Ranthambore National Park. Find out more about wild animals in Ranthambore.

For the first time in the history of Ranthambore, rare species of semi aquatic species Otter have been observed. Otter is a semi-aquatic fish-eating mammal. It is related to weasel family. Its body is long, dense fur and webbed feet. This wild animal is also called "Udbilao" in Hindi and "Jalmanush" in general language.

The first glimpse of Otter in Ranthambore

Forest officials of Ranthambore said that this is the first time that the otter was seen here. It is worth mentioning that on Thursday afternoon, DFO Mukesh Saini and ACF Sanjeev Sharma had gone for patrolling with the staff in the forest, only then they got the otter in Zone 3 of Ranthambore. For the first time in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Forest Officers saw the otter and captured them in the camera. The most important thing is that the otter has appeared in the Ranthambore forest with the entire family.

Otter seen with the whole family

According to the current records, there are 60 species of mammals in Ranthambore sanctuary. But on Thursday, August 1, 2019 this number has increased to around 61 on record now. Ranthambore Forest Officers had entered the Jogi Mahal Gate for patrolling. They went a little further, that they saw the whole family of otters near the small cenotaph (Chhoti Chhatri) located in Zone 3. There were two small pups with male and female. Now the forest officials are busy exploring the possibility of the existence of otter in Ranthambore National Park.

Discussion of being seen in the Past

Mukesh Saini (DFO) told that according to Hotelier Balendu Singh, he had seen this creature once in the year 1982-83 in Amarai area, but then they could not capture Otter in the camera because they did not have a camera. Although wildlife lovers talk about the glimpse of the otter years ago in the Dungarmal Darra terrain of Ranthambore, there is no evidence of this. In this way, forest officials are assuming the presence of Otter for the first time in Ranthambore.

Seen in the Chambal and Yamuna Rivers

Usually the otter is found in the Chambal and Yamuna rivers. Otter has been seen several times in Chambal River on the Pali Ghat of Sawai Madhopur, but now its number is decreasing even in the Chambal River of Sawai Madhopur. This creature lives in water most of the time.

Favorite food is fish but afraid of crocodile

Forest Officer of Ranthambore said that this is very simple creature and basically hunts fish. Its favorite food is fish but it is afraid of crocodile. Its biggest enemy in the stopped water is crocodile. Crocodile hunts otters in water. There are several sources of water in Ranthambore National Park, mainly including Raj bagh Lake, Padam Lake and Malik Lake. Apart from this, there are Gaada Doob in zone 1 and Kachida Lake in Zone 5. Marsh Crocodiles live in these water sources of Ranthambore. Apart from this, other wild animals found in Ranthambore along the lakes can be seen. Because of this, this creature does not live in the lakes of Ranthambore.

Smooth-coated otter species

This Otter is a species of Smooth-coated otter. This is very rare wild species. Otter is a semi aqueous mammalian animal. It is a carnivorous creature.This type of creature has originally appeared in Chambal River or around it in Rajasthan. It has been recorded in Rawatbhata, Keshoraipatan, Pali Ghat Sawai Madhopur and Mandiral so far.

Smooth-coated otter is an otter species that is found in the Indian subcontinent and in most parts of Southeast Asia. Its scientific name is Lutrogale perspicillata. As its name suggests, the fur of this species is smooth and smaller than other otter species. This animal is in areas where fresh water is abundant – wetlands and seasonal swamps, rivers, lakes and rice paddy.

The bodies of the otters are tall and thin. At the end of their little arms, there are fast nails and webbed feet. These webbed feet help them to swim. There is a difference in size between different species. Their length is between 0.6 to 1.8 meters and they weigh between 1 to 45 kg. They eat up to 15% of their body weight. Several of its species spread across Europe and Asia, where they make many hole on the banks of rivers, lakes and large ponds. They often live in groups of 5-7 and make a cycle in water and prey on fish.