By Johannes Malinowski
With a tennis ball, bamboo pole and one or two treats: These zoo residents have a real (L)otter life!
Zookeeper Julian Sonderegger trains the little otters every day so that everyday life at the zoo doesn’t get too boring.
“The training is fun for the animals and is also a great activity for body and mind,” says zoo spokeswoman Philine Hachmeister. Whistle and snacks are important tools for the keepers.
Playing keeps them fit, but also helps the animals get used to their keepers. This allows them to get closer to the otters, making examinations and medical treatments easier.
The newest resident of the enclosure is a male pygmy otter (1 year and 10 months old). The lad has recently been keeping female Maizie (12) company. The two get along well and cuddle a lot.
Animal keeper Julian Sonderegger is the master of the pygmy otters. Zoo visitors can usually watch the training in the morning Photo: Olaf Wagner
The male doesn’t have a name yet. “The current favorite is Jonas,” says Hachmeister. He should also take part in the training as soon as he has completely settled in.
With a bit of luck, zoo visitors can also watch the otter training. It usually takes place in the morning.
Sociable and playful
Dwarf otters are the smallest of all otter species and are native to Southeast Asia. They are considered an endangered species and belong to the marten family. Little otters are very sociable animals that love to play with each other. They live in family groups consisting of up to twelve animals. They can even talk to each other through their screeching screams.
They also go hunting with conspecifics. On the menu are mainly mussels, snails and crabs, but also a muskrat or young birds. Unlike other otter species, they do not catch their prey with their mouths, but grab it with their paws.
Dwarf otters can have offspring twice a year. The couple digs a cave in the mud. Up to six young are born after a gestation period of 64 days.