Otters return to the Sunderbans - indicates better health of the delta region

Otters are coming back to the Sunderbans - these carnivorous and semi-aquatic mammal, that measure not more than three feet from head to tail, are making a revival in Bengal thus heralding a change and coming as a delight to environmentalists. This comeback indicates a revival of health of the Sunderbans which is the world's largest mangrove forest spanning two countries.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 5 June 2016.

The Otter was once very common in Bengal but, it was considered threatened in the IUCN Red List and it was feared that it had gone extinct in the Indian Sunderbans in 2000. However, if recent sightings in the 4000-square kilometres Indian Sunderbans are any indication — it is making a spirited comeback. Environmentalists believe that the comeback of the species is a positive indication that the mangroves are regaining its health.
Study carried out by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has found that otters are more evenly distributed across the tiger reserve with an area coverage of about 67%. This is greater than that of crocodiles and water monitor lizards which score better over otters in terms of sighting.
In fact, otters were observed to have a higher relative abundance in the southern part of National Park East range.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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