Central Asian otter / Kunduz / Common otter

Central Asian otter

Status: III category Critically Endangered, CR: R, Cl. The subspecies Lutra lutra seistanica Birula, 1912 inhabits Kyrgyzstan. It is one of two subspecies in Central Asia.

Distribution general and in the country. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan. Previously inhabited the water bodies of the Issyk-Kul basin, Chatkal, Naryn, and in the Alai valley. Currently found in the Alai valley, southwestern part of the Kyzyl-Suu river. It may still exist in the Chatkal river basin, Uzenge-Kuush [3, 9].

Habitat. River and lake shores rich in fish, with floodplain thickets of trees and shrubs or rocky debris.

Population. Currently, there is no information available.

Life style (life cycles). Not studied.

Limiting factors. Human extermination, depletion of fish stocks.

Breeding (captive maintenance). Unknown.

Existing conservation measures. Hunting is prohibited.

Recommended conservation measures. Establishment of a protected area in the Alai valley. Surveying the territory of the Alai valley to determine the current range. Conducting a detailed survey of potential habitats in the Chatkal valley and the Sary-Jaz river basin.

Kunduz

Common otter
Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758
Status: III category Critically Endangered, CR: R. Previously inhabited the rivers and lakes of Issyk-Kul, Chatkal, Naryn, and Alai Basins. Currently occurs in the Alai valley along the Kyzyl-Suu river, and probably in the Chatkal and Uzenge-Kuush rivers. Prefers river banks and lake shores with floodplain vegetation or rocky spots. There are no more than several pairs breeding in Kyrgyzstan. The species' biology is not explored. Poaching and reduction of fish supply are major limiting factors. Captivity breeding is unknown. Hunting is prohibited. It is recommended to establish a protected area in the Alai valley, investigate.