Otters are obligate sentinels of freshwater ecosystems, functioning as a semi-aquatic
apex predator and regulate fish communities by selectively prey-on weak, diseased, and
moribund fishes, thereby keeping the healthy fish population and genetic integrity. Despite
ecological importance, distributional status and population trajectories of the Smooth-coated
Otter Lutrogale perspicillata remain poorly resolved across large parts of India. Furthermore,
key aspects of their behavioural ecology including habitat choice for denning and scent-
marking, as well as acoustic communication have received limited attention in wild
populations. In this paper, we assessed the occurrence, habitat choice, temporal activity
patterns, and vocal repertoire of Lutrogale perspicillata along the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary
part of the Wainganga River in eastern Maharashtra. Otters exhibited a marked habitat marking
choice for sandy-clay banks in the river sections with shallow water (<1 m depth), narrow
channel widths (<100 m) and moderate canopy cover (<60%) for establishing dens and scent-
marking sites. The temporal activity pattern indicates that otters in the study area were
predominantly diurnal. Grooming and locomotion, together contributes nearly 60% of their
overall time activity budget (χ² = 4.57, P<0.001). Otter oscillogram was characterized by high-
frequency phrases composed of strong modulated echemes. Direct observations of an otter
family comprising of eleven individuals, including four well-grown subadults, provide
unequivocal evidence of successful otter breeding in the Wainganga River system. Concurrent
anthropogenic pressures, particularly occasional fishing and unregulated sand mining, were
documented during the study period. We recommend immediate regulation of these
anthropogenic activities to safeguard critical otter habitats and ensure the long- term survival of
this vulnerable semi-aquatic predator within a rapidly changing Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary
part of the Wainganga Riverscape.
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