New papers from the Himalayas, 2021-2026
Ranjana Pal, Aashna Sharma, Vineet Kumar Dubey, Tapajit Bhattacharya, Jeyaraj Antony Johnson, Kuppusamy Sivakumar, Sambandam Sathyakumar. 2021. A rare photographic record of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra with a note on its habitat from the Bhagirathi Basin, western Himalayas, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(13): 20072-20077.
Jamwal, Pushpinder Singh, Mirko Di Febbraro, Maria Laura Carrnza, Melissa Savage, Anna Loy. 2021. Niche modelling, current distribution and future scenarios for the otters in Himalayas. 2021.
Acharya, P.M., Saeung, S., Techato, K., Rimal, N., Gyawali, S., and Neupane, D. 2022. Review of Environmental Policies and Otter Conservation in Nepal. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bull. 39(1): 44 – 55.
Basak, Sayanti, Bivash Pandav, Jeyaraj Antony Johnson, and Syed Ainul Hussain. 2021. Resource utilisation by smooth-coated otter in the rivers of Himalayan foothills in Uttarakhand, India. Global Ecology and Conservation 32: e01896.
Jamwal, Pushpinder S., Di Febbraro, M., Carranza, M. L., Savage, M., & Loy, A. 2022. Global change on the roof of the world: Vulnerability of Himalayan otter species to land use and climate alterations. Diversity and Distributions 28.8 (2022): 1635-1649.
Jamwal, P.S., Bruno, A., Galimberti, A., Magnani, D., Casiraghi, M. & Loy, A. 2023. Environmental DNA revealed high accuracy in detection of the Eurasian otter in Himalaya. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 112. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4010
Mohan B. Shrestha, G. Shresthra, M. Maharjan, K.N. Shah. 2023. An unusual sighting record of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. OTTER: J. Int’l Otter Survival Fund 64-71.
Jyoti Bhandari, B.Rijal, R. Shau, D. Bijaya. 2023. Conservation status survey of Smooth-coated Otters (Lutrogale perspillata) in Babai River of Bardia National Park, Nepal. OTTER: The Journal of the International Otter Survival Fund 144-152.
Purna Man Shrestha, S. Gwachha, S. Shrestha, A. Hamal, T.T. Tamang, B. Awasthi, S. Ghimire, R. Koju. 2023. People’s perceptions of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) conservation in Mugu District, Nepal. OTTER: The Journal of the International Otter Survival Fund. 128-143.
Paras Mani Acharya, Panu Thainiramit, Kuaanan Techato, Suraj Baral, Naresh Rimal, Melissa Savage, Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, Dinesh Neupane. 2023. Predicting the Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Lowland Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation 46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j/gecco.2023.e02578
Awasthi, B., B. Banjade, N. Pandey, S. Joshi, M. Savage, P.M. Shrestha, P.R. Bhatt. 2024. The effects of biological quality on the presence of the Smooth-coated otter in Far Western Nepal. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 41(2): 71-87.
Awasthi, B., K. Uprety, P. M. Shrestha, B. R. Banjade, G. M Yoxon, A. Kunwar. 2024. Behaviour and activity Patterns of Smooth-coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. J. Institute of Science and Technology 29(2): 19-28.
Giri, P. and P.M. Shrestha. 2024. Local peoples’ knowledge, perceptions, and conservation threats to Eurasian otters in the Kali Gandaki Watershed in Myagdi District, Nepal. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bull. 41(5): 216-231.
Javid, M., K. Ahmad, O. Ilyas. 2024. Once distributed throughout the Kashmir Valley, now on the verge of extinction: A sighting of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Gurez Valley, Jammu and Kashmir. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 41(4): 189-196.
Bida, Y.B. 2024. Notes on feeding behaviour of Asian Small-clawed otters in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group. Bull. 40(1): 39-41.
Sharma, S., A. Subba, G. Pradhan, and A. Chhetri. 2024. Photographic evidence of incidental sightings of the vulnerable Small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus Illiger, 1815) in the mixed forest of Darjeeling and Kalimpong District as part of Central Himalayas. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 41(3): 140-153.
Norbu, L., T. Jamtsho, K. Jamtsho, P. Tenzin, U. Lhendup. 2024. A Survey of Otters in the Kholongchu and Upper Drangmechu Rivers, Eastern Bhutan. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 41(3): 125-139.
Basnet, Amir. 2024. Habitat use and threats of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in Kabeli Khola of Taplejung District, Eastern Nepal. Doctoral dissertation, Tribhuvan University.
Bida, Y.B. and Rai, M. 2025. Photographic Record of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42(1): 9 – 13.
Dahal, S. and J.T. Heinen. 2025. A history of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Implementation in Nepal. Diversity 17, 312. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17050312
Shrestha, M.B., Shrestha, G., Dangaura, H.L., Chaudhary, R., Shrestha, P.M., Dewan, K., Sada, R., Savage, M., and Zuofu Xiang. 2025. Confirmation of the presence of Asian Small-Clawed otter Aonyx cinereus in Nepal after 185 years. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42 (1): 3 – 8.
Thapa, V. and Lama, R.P. 2025. Artisanal Fishing Bycatch Confirms the Northernmost Distribution of Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) In Nepal. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42(2): 91 – 97.
Awasthi, B., Uprety, K., Shrestha, P. M., Poudyal, L. P., & Kunwar, A. 2024. Community knowledge, perception and conservation challenges of Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Api Journal of Science, 1(1), 48–56. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajs.v1i1.75486
Awasthi, B., Baral, S., Banjade, B.R., Yoxon, G.M., Shrestha, P.M. 2025. Habitat selection of the Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Ecology and Evolution 15:e71297 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71297
Giri, P., Pariyar, S., and Shrestha, P.M. 2025. Habitat Factors influencing the Distribution of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in Major Rivers of the Myagdi District, Nepal. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42 (1): 27 – 36
Ali, Z., Nafees, M., Suleman, S., Ullah, I., Khan, W. A., & Ali, M. 2025. Habitat suitability and future projections for Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in Pakistan using species distribution modelling. Pakistan J. Wildl, 16(2), 1-12.
Awasthi, B., Baral, S., Banjade, B.R., Yoxon, G.M. and Shrestha, P.M. 2025. Habitat selection of the Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal. Ecol Evol. 15: e71297. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71297
Srivastava, T., M. Singh, M. Nazir, S. A. Wagay, and I. Narayanan. 2025. The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu and Kashmir, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 43(1): 15-23.
Fernandez, K. and K. Hughes. 2026. Determining distribution and threats of otter species in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 43(1):29-39.
Khan, I.H., M. K. Kumar, A. Sharma, U. Mushtaq, and K. Ahmed. 2026. New distribution record of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from a high-altitude riverine system of the Pir Panjal Range and its conservation relevance. IUCN Otter Spec. Group. Bull. 43(1): 63-66.
Mushtaq, U., and Ahmed, K. 2025. First photographic evidence of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in a tributary of Chenab River, Marsudar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42(4): 194-197.
Russo, L. F., G.Girardi, V. Penteriani, A. Loy, and L. Santini. 2026. Shared waters, divided interests: A systematic review of human–otter conflicts worldwide.” Mammal Review 56, no. 1: e70021.
Thapa, S., Singh, G., Pun, T., Dahal, D.R., Thakuri, D.C., and Achhami, B. 2026. Monitoring and conservation awareness of Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) in Jajarkot District, Western Nepal. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 43(1):46-62.
