Class: Mammal
Order: Carnivore
Family: Badgers, otters, weasels & relatives
Found: Africa
Size: 1.6m
Weight: 28kg

Diet: Carnivore (Meat Eater)
Gestation: 62 days

Conservation Status: LC

Habitats: rivers, lakes and ponds

Threats: This is one of the most endangered species in South America. Up until the 1980s these otters were excessively hunted for their valuable fur. Today an estimated 2,000-5,000 are left in isolated pockets due to hunting, pollution and habitat destruction; with the areas in which they live being destroyed and degraded by mining, logging, damming and over-fishing . Today even in captivity they are very rare, with this park being one of two places in England where you can see these fabulous animals. Yet another animal competing with humans for space and food.

Social Behaviour: A special feature of the Giant Otter is their highly developed social behaviour. They live in groups of up to 10 individuals, who hunt, sleep, and play together. A group occupies a confined territory, and the territories of different groups do not overlap.

Food: Giant otters are piscivorous, meaning they eat only fish! They spend most of their time in the water and find most of their food there. Giant Otters hunt during the day and sleep at night. An amazing thing about their whiskers, which are called “vibrissae”, is that they can use them to detect changes in current and water pressure. This helps when they are searching for fish and other prey because they can detect the prey’s movement.

Information: This otter’s fur is so dense that water never reaches the skin, even when swimming. Giant Otters spend a lot of time in the water, and can dive for several minutes at a time so their outer fur is thick and waterproof. The inner coat includes an insulating layer of air, and stays dry even underwater.

Range: The Giant Otter lives in the rivers and lakes of the South American rainforest. The Giant Otter population once was widespread from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Today they are found in the slow moving rivers, lakes and ponds of the Orinoco, Amazon, and La Plata rivers.

Conservation: Through our conservation charities The Sumatran Tiger Trust and The Wildlife Protection Foundation we are working to save species and habitats all over the world. To find out more check out www.wildlifeprotection.info or www.tigertrust.info