‘Otterly’ adorable newcomers at Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo is delighted to welcome five male Asian Small-Clawed Otters, who travelled to Wellington from Perth Zoo this week.

The group of two-year-old brothers arrived safely on Tuesday, and spent their first day in quarantine undergoing MPI health checks.

Visitors can catch their first glimpse of Bay, Eko, Si, Bhutan and Jambi in Wellington Zoo’s Otter exhibit from today.

“These handsome brothers are settling in well to life in Wellington. They’re very curious and are enjoying investigating their new surroundings together,” said Paul Horton, Life Sciences Manager.

“We're really excited that our bachelor group of Otters are finding a new home at Wellington Zoo. They're a very cheeky, clever and gregarious group who love getting up to mischief, so I am sure they'll delight visitors as much as they have done at Perth Zoo," said Holly Thompson, Perth Zoo Supervisor.

“Bay is the leader of the pack and usually instigates all the mischief, whilst Jambi is the more tentative of the boys.”

Asian Small-Clawed Otters are classified as vulnerable, with habitat loss the biggest threat they face in the wild. Wellington Zoo encourages visitors to help by purchasing sustainable timber and paper products marked with the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) logo.

About Asian Small-Clawed Otters

Asian Small-Clawed Otters are the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species, weighing no more than 5kg. They are found in freshwater rivers, swamps and wetlands of southern and southeastern Asia. While other Otters use their mouths to catch prey, Asian Small-Clawed Otters prefer to use their feet. Otters are social animals that live in family groups of up to 12.

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