05 July,2026 12:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Arpika Bhosale
The otter was spotted last week in the mangroves around Atal Setu. Pic/Instagram@Hey_goodtimes_
Fake or real? That's what many have been asking on watching the viral video of an otter near the Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai. People either mistook it for a seal, or labelled the video as AI's handiwork. And that's because most Mumbaikars don't know that the city's coastline is often visited by otters. This one in the video, in particular, seems to be a smooth-coated otter, a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act 2022.
The disconnect from wildlife in and around the city can be seen in the comment section with statements like, "Anything is possible with AI and photoshop", while another says, "It's a seal, look at his body movement".
Most of us will be no strangers to otters; cute videos of this aquatic mammal are popular on social media. Not many might know that they also live in India's rivers and estuaries. This is because they are few in numbers and very little is known about them, says Atul Borker, wildlife researcher and the co-founder and director of Vanasa Conservation Foundation who has been studying the animal for over a decade.
There is no estimate of the population in either Goa or Mumbai explains Borker as a result.
The fact that we rarely spot otters here is an indicator of just how low their numbers are, says Borker.
"Otters don't have an individual marking thereby making it very challenging to get an accurate population estimate. Also, Otters being semi-aquatic in nature are difficult species to study," he says. Unlike river otters, smooth-coated otters live by the sea. They are social creatures and live in family groups, but some individuals do experience wanderlust. "Smooth-coated otters are traditionally known to be river otters; certain otter families have adopted to live in mangrove habitats over time. Mangroves provide them with food and security needed for their survival. Otters are very territorial. Some individuals leave the family and transient for a short period of time till they find a mate. The new pair then search for a territory of their own and build a family," Borker says.
"When we see a single individual, it's generally a transient otter looking for new territory or a mate. Sometimes, though, it could also be the alpha male/female of the family patrolling its territory," he adds.
Otters have incredible rizz on Instagram, but its cuteness is also why it's smuggled and traded, apart from its fur. "Abroad, particularly, their cuteness is often the reason they are traded in the wildlife pet world," says Borker.
Many conservationists have been expressing growing concerns that Navi Mumbai's wildlife has been in danger because of the new airport, including the growing number of golden jackals being spotted near the area. Borker is practical about it. "It's a dilemma. It's very easy to say, don't construct anything. But the thing is, our population is growing. We are a developing country, so there is a certain amount of pressure that we will put on the ecosystem," he says. But he believes in holistic development, "It is not conservation versus development. Like I always say, conservation should be an active part of development planning. During tsunamis, it has been well-recorded how much mangroves have helped in reducing the impact," he adds.
We hope the otters keep sliding and gliding in our city, and that humans enjoy these sightings too - from afar.
