Bandipora, Jan. 31 -- Once believed to be extinct in the Himalayan region, the elusive Eurasian otter has made a rare appearance in Gurez Valley, Bandipora district, sparking excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.

Otters are carnivorous mammals belonging to the Mustelidae family which includes weasels, badgers, minks, etc. They are one of the top predators found in river ecosystems across the country.

A recent video that went viral on social media from Gurez Valley captures three of these semi-aquatic mammals feasting on rainbow trout in the Kishanganga River.

The footage, recorded by Wajid Munawar Shangoo, a resident of Markoot, offers a rare glimpse into the species that had seemingly vanished from Kashmir's waterways.

Shangoo said ...