Rediscovering otters in Nepal!

Two species of otter have been recorded around the lakes of the Pokhara Valley, Nepal. But since 1991 there have only been sightings by local residents, which are hard to verify. The lakes are listed as “wetlands of international importance”, but they are degrading, which endangers otters and other wildlife. If we find otters here, that would be a game-changer for restoring these precious ecosystems and saving the otters.

I’m a Kiwi freshwater ecologist now working in Nepal with Kathmandu University. My Masters student and I want to see if Eurasian and Smooth-coated otters still exist around the lakes, using a technique called “environmental DNA” (eDNA). We can just collect water samples from the inflowing rivers, and if any otters have been in contact with the water, their DNA should be detected in the samples. A Wellington company called Wilderlab are specialists in eDNA and ecologists in NZ use their services regularly to survey mammals, birds, fish, etc. in and around NZ waterways. The Nepal Otter Action Plan recommends eDNA for otter surveys, but ours would be the first time to actually try it in Nepal.

In one sample, eDNA can detect not only otters also many other mammal, bird, fish and amphibian species living around the river. So even if we don’t find otters we may find other rare species and be able to show researchers in Nepal how useful this tool is for species surveys.

With a generous 2-for-1 offer from Wilderlab NZ, we need only NZ$7000 for a thorough survey.