Smooth-coated Otters:
The National Zoological Park (NZP) in Delhi welcomes a pair of smooth-coated otters from Surat in a rare animal exchange after 20 years.
- Smooth-coated Otters is a species of otter, the only extant representative of the genus Lutrogale.
- They live in southern and Southeast Asia, China, and India, and in Iraq there is a small population.
- They are mostly found in lowlands, coastal mangrove forests, peat swamp forests, freshwater wetlands, large forested rivers, lakes, and rice paddies.
- They are the largest otter in Southeast Asia.
- The fur of this species is smoother and shorter than that of other otters.
- The fur is light to dark brown dorsally and light brown to almost gray ventrally.
- They have short, tightly packed under fur and longer, water-repellant guard hairs.
- They are strong swimmers and hunt in groups. When fishing, they travel in a V-formation going upstream.
- Threats: Loss of habitat, habitat degradation due to water pollution from fertilizers and pesticides and poaching.
- Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable.
