During a visit to the London Wetland Centre we were delighted to observe three Asian Short-clawed Otters (Aonyx cinerea) swimming, playing and feeding in their large enclosure.

These otters, as you probably guessed, are not native to the UK but have been chosen for exhibit by The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) for several reasons. Firstly, unlike our native otter (Lutra lutra), this species is not nocturnal so the animals are active when the visiting public are watching.

Asian Short-clawed Otters are the smallest and most social of the 13 otter species in the world; they are very engaging to watch. Sadly, they are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. In its native environment of marshy swamps, pools and rice fields across Asia, the species is suffering from pollution, habitat loss and hunting. 

WWT intends to breed these otters in order to understand more about the species, hopefully acquiring knowledge which may help the otters in the wild, as well inspiring visitors to help protect global wetlands and the wildlife that depends on them.

There are a couple of otter feeds each day which you can watch. A member of the WWT team will be there to deliver the goods to the otters (fish, beef and locusts!), and to inform you about their behaviour and answer your questions. The feeding times are displayed on the notice board as you enter the centre. The otters, however, do seem to be active for most of the time anyway.

Here are a few of my photographs for you to enjoy. You can see for yourself just how playful they are!

The image above is my favourite, it says to me the most about what life is like for an otter. An otter is a creature of two worlds; one above and one below the water. This photograph captures the moment the otter is about to plunge from one world into another. As we look at the surface of the water, we have only the faintest clue of what lies beneath, but in another split second the otter will be immersed in that world. In that world we would be disorientated and clumsy, but he has the ability to detect and pursue the fastest of prey. Otters are perfectly adapted for their dual lifestyle; their feet, adapt at climbing over rocks, are also webbed and provide propulsion under water.

Their body is sinuous and muscular, they move with incredible grace and fluidity, almost liquid themselves.  Their fur is so insulating that their body remains dry underneath two layers of hair, even whilst underwater. A third clear eye lid called the nictitating membrane covers the eye when underwater, providing protection and allowing for clear vision. Humans eyes cannot focus underwater unless there is a layer of air between the eye and the water (such as a divers mask).

Otters however, can adjust the curvature of their eye lens, so that in bright light, they can see as well below water as above it. These adaptations, evolved over millions of years, have created an animal so harmonious with water that out of the corner of your eye, you would dismiss it as a ripple.

If you blinked, you would miss its plunge into a watery world. You certainly wouldn’t hear it, they don’t make a splash!