Loutre d'Asie

The major threat to Smooth-coated Otter populations is habitat loss and degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on wetlands and waterways. Much of the natural habitats have been lost to development activities, including the construction of large-scale hydroelectric projects, reclamation for settlements and agriculture. In addition, wetlands and waterways are increasingly polluted by eutrophication and accumulation of persistent pesticides such as chlorinated hydrocarbons and organophosphates through agricultural runoffs. This poses a danger not only to the otter populations living in the habitats, but also negatively impacts the aquatic prey biomass that the otters rely on (Melisch et al. 1996). The aquatic prey biomass for otters have also been depleted by humans.  This is due to the increase in human population over the last century without effective rural development programmes that have been able to address the problems of poverty, forcing people to be more and more dependent on natural resources (Badola 1997). Although urban populations of Smooth-coated Otters occur in the Singapore, not every country or city may be able to replicate the myriad of factors (suitable riparian habitats, clean waters, free of poaching, etc.) that are required for the establishment of these otters.

Severe conflict human-otter conflicts in the entire south and southeast Asia have threatened the otter populations in the region. Indiscriminate killings of otters driven by resource competition between humans, especially aquaculturists and the species occur, as otters frequent fish farms for foraging. This is exacerbated by poverty and a recent increase in aquaculture activities. In southeast Asian countries, there does not seem to be any intentional otter trapping (Melisch et al. 1996) though it is prevalent in India, Nepal and Bangladesh fueled by illegal wildlife trade.

The illegal wildlife trade poses a direct threat to the Smooth-coated Otter. From 1980 to 2015, 5,881 otter pelts were seized across 15 countries in Asia, with about half of the pelts coming from India and most cases involving the Smooth-coated and Eurasian Otters (Gomez et al. 2016). Otters are also coveted by the online pet trade, particularly in Southeast Asia (Gomez and Bouhuys 2018) and for use in traditional medicine in some countries of Southeast Asia and China (Poole 2003).

Linear infrastructure, such as road networks, have led to the fragmentation of wildlife habitats, thereby posing another threat to the species. There have been frequent records of road kills of otters in India and Southeast Asian countries, however, there is inadequate data available on the trends of mortality due to roads and other linear infrastructure. An insufficient reporting system for road kills also hampers an understanding of the level of otter mortality from vehicles.

Populations of otters are also susceptible to diseases such as rabies, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, and parvovirus, which may be contracted by Smooth-coated Otters from feral dogs or other species of otters.

Smooth-coated Otter is a protected species in almost all the range countries which prohibits its killing. It has been up listed to Appendix I from Appendix II of CITES in 2019. However, most range countries are not able to control the clandestine trade leading to extensive poaching.

The Smooth-coated Otter, once common in the wetlands and low lying areas of south Asia, is now restricted to a few protected areas. Creation of networks of Protected Areas, identification of sites as wetlands of national and international importance under Ramsar Convention, has, to some extent, halted the degradation of its habitat.

Over the years the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group has developed a cadre of biologist across Asia to conduct field surveys and has popularize otter conservation by promoting otters as ambassadors of the wetlands. A global strategy for otter conservation was also published by the IUCN SSC Otter Specialist Group as a consolidated effort to identify and discuss the significant factors that influence habitat quality and the presence of otter in each region where they occur. However, concerted efforts to conserve this species are needed. For the long term survival of the species, policy based action, research on factors affecting its survival, habitat based action on creation and wherever required expansion of protected areas, and communication and awareness building actions are needed. The Global Otter Conservation Strategy for the species (Hussain et al. 2018) recommends priority actions that include:

• Monitor population status of Smooth-coated Otter in protected as well as non-protected areas in all range countries.
• Determine the status of L. p. maxwelli in the Iraqi marshes.
• Support existing laboratories, and creation of new research facilities dedicated to research on conservation genetics of the species.
• Support full-time research for otter conservation.
• Organise workshops for capacity building, conservation education, and awareness in all range countries.