Aonyx cinerea
There are twelve different species of Otter in the world. The Asian Short Clawed Otter, found from Southern India to South China and South-east Asia, is the smallest. At birth they weigh only 50g, but fully grown they are still only 2.7-5.4kg! Despite being so small, their presence is really heard around Trotters Wildlife Park at feeding time!
Their long whiskers help them to find food in murky water and dense undergrowth by detecting the movement of their prey. Although typically we might expect Otters to eat fish, Asian Short Clawed Otters prefer amphibians, molluscs and small mammals.
Friends for life, they form monogamous pairs and can have two litters of 1 – 6 pups per year. Our resident male is called Hutch, born in 2003 at Suffolk Wildlife park was one the first Otters to breed at Trotters World Of Animals and has successfully been raised boisterous groups of youngsters with his mates since 2005.
Like many of the other species at Trotters World of Animals, these Otters are classed as vulnerable, if you would like to help with the upkeep and conservation of Hutch and his family you could Adopt an Otter at Trotters.
