Otters

  • SEA LIFE, Otters

Asian Short-Clawed Otters

Here at  Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, we are lucky enough to have family of Asian Short-Clawed Otters as residents.

The Asian Short-Claw Otter is the smallest species of otter in the world, growing on average around 70cm long. In the wild, they live in small family groups of up to 12 otters. They are social animals and live in extended family groups choosing to reside in burrows dug into muddy banks. Only the dominant pair will breed, whilst their offspring and older cubs will help to raise new litters.

They are playful and will spend much of the day on land playing, grooming, resting and sleeping.

They are social animals and live in extended family groups

They choose to reside in burrows dug into muddy banks. Only the dominant pair will breed, whilst their offspring and older cubs will help to raise new litters. They are playful and will spend much of the day on land playing, grooming, resting and sleeping.

Group Of Otters
Otters at SEA LIFE Weymouth

Meet the Otters

Weymouth SEA LIFE is home to otters Isa and Badger along with their pups Kimchi, Tofu, Miso and Sushi who were born at the park in February 2024.

Watch as they dip and dive in their river, wash themselves with pebbles, and play in the long grass.

Did you know?

  • When Otters are born, they weigh around 50g, are toothless, practically immobile and their eyes are still closed!
Asian short clawed otters at SEA LIFE Weymouth

Native Habitat

The Asian Short-Clawed Otter lives in the mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, Burma, India, southern China, Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This often includes rice paddies and river systems.

Otters Playing

Did you know?

  • Asian short-clawed otters are a very vocal species and can make at least 12 different sounds to communicate, including alarm, greeting and mating calls
  • The otters eat primarily crustaceans and mollusks but will also eat fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles. Asian small-clawed otters use their forepaws rather than their mouth to locate and capture food items
  • They have webbed feet, and true to their name, their claws do not extend beyond their digital pads
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