World Wildlife Fund (India & Pakistan)
WWF India plans to chart all otter species in India, in order to facilitate otter conservation. The organization has established the current population distribution and status in the unprotected parts of the Ganges river.
WWF Pakistan has played a huge a role in raising awareness among local communities about the conservation of otters by highlighting the issues through visits to the communities, and through the media. A three-year project is being planned in collaboration with a local community-based organization, Makhi Development Organization.
Image Credit: International Otter Survival Fund
International Otter Survival Fund
The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is a charity foundation. Through donations and adoptions, it raises funds for the conservation of otters around the world.
IOSF is also involved in otter conservation projects around the world. An example would be funding a project in 2002 to study Smooth-coated Otters in Nepal’s Bardia National Park for the development of a management program. Additionally, IOSF has published reports on illegal otter trade in 2008 and 2014.
Lastly, IOSF has organized events and campaigns such as the World Otter Day and Year of the Otter to raise awareness and encourage fundraising for the global conservation of otters.
Wild Otters
Wild Otters is an NGO based in India, which primarily conducts research on the Smooth-coated Otter and Asian small-clawed Otter to support conservation of the species. It also emphasizes capacity building by conducting training workshops on otter ecology and conservation for students and interns, and seminars in schools to educate young children on the ecological importance of otters.
A study has been conducted by Wild Otters to collect distribution data and threat information from unknown populations of Smooth-coated Otter and Asian small-clawed Otter in Goa, a state in western India. Findings of the study aided the organization in solving the otter data deficiency issue in India, making a huge contribution to future conservation efforts.
Research Projects of Wild Otters
Image Credit: Wild Otters
Another study explored the human-otter relationship outside of non-protected areas by working with local communities and fisheries in Goa to understand their perception towards otters. Even though otters are highly adaptable, surviving in a human-dominated environment would be difficult if humans see them as pests and competitors. The findings of this study will be crucial, as it will provide a basis for solutions to the human-otter conflict.