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Otter madness!

Otter madness has descended on Belfast Zoo in the form of two smooth-coated otters. Belfast Zoo have welcomed the male and female into an enclosure opposite the sea lions, and are now only the second zoo outside of Asia to care for this endangered species.

The smooth-coated otters are an energetic and noisy pair, and are expected to be a summer favourite. Zoo manager Mark Challis is delighted to have the new pair in their enclosure. “The new smooth-coated otters are a fascinating pair and are getting on swimmingly. They are extremely active in their new enclosure and make lots of noise for visitors. They are very curious and often stand up on their hind legs to get a good view of what’s around them. It’s a pleasure for us to care for this vulnerable species.”

To help with swimming, the smooth-coated otter’s front legs are shorter than the back legs and it has a thick, conical tail that is more flattened than other otters, particularly at the end. They have short claws at the front and webbed feet. The smooth-coated otters came to Belfast Zoo from a rare species conservation centre Kent.

Other new animals that can be seen at the zoo this summer include red titi monkeys, toco toucans and Visayan warty pigs. Lots of babies have been born too, including ring-tailed lemurs and Eastern bongos. You can contribute towards the care of Belfast Zoo’s new pair of smooth-coated otters by taking part in the zoo’s adoption scheme.


Find out more about animal adoption