Otter Fishing

By ABC Australia

March 1997

00:17:00

(Voiceover)

In the world’s most crowded country, it’s hard to imagine there is any room for nature.

But the Sundarbans National Park, at the mouth of the Ganges River, resonates with the call of the wild.

00:49:00

(Voiceover)

Well, wouldn't you be wild too? Stuck in a box like this.

01:01:01

(Voiceover)

The otter may not be as famous as Bangladesh’s elusive Bengali tiger, but stand in its way at mealtime, and I bet it could be every bit as ferocious.

01:33:00

(Filmmaker- asking)

So do you have to have a special relationship with the otters?

01:36:07

(Genendro)

Relationship? It’s as you see it.

01:43:19

(Voiceover)

I’d imagined a story about a romantic way of life, about the devotion between a man and his otters. You’d think by now, I’d know better. 

02:10:11

(Voiceover)

Every year, before the winter fishing season, Genendro and his neighbours pack up their otters with their families’ farewell and head down stream to the Sundarbans.

02:3:21

(Voiceover)

The first dip of the season is always a shock. So Genendro provides some gentle encouragement. While the otters acclimatise, the fishermen cast their nets.

03:01:23

(Voiceover)

The otters work in pairs, swimming to the bank, herding up any fish or shrimp and driving them back into the net. At least, that's the theory. Sometimes, however, herding the otters is a task in itself.

03:23:13

(Voiceover)

About the only thing Genendro is catching today are the otters hitching a ride.

03:34:14

(Filmmaker- asking)

How do you train the otters to catch the fish?

03:37:21

(Genendro)

When the otters are babies, we put them into the water with their mother and father, so they learn to dive early.

03:46:14

(Filmmaker- asking)

And what about the otters, do you like otters?

03:49:23

(Genendro)

Yes, I like them. To me, they are friends.

It's because of them that I can make money.

They will bring fish and we will sell the fish to get money for food.

04:37:09

(Voiceover)

At the close of the day, it’s time to unwind and prepare the evening meal.

04:53:00

(Voiceover)

Before leaving, we tried for one last glimpse of the otters.

The fishermen did their best to help but our fury friends had had enough of us. 

No doubt, so too had the fishermen, but they were far too generous to say.