Chester Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, with some being very rare and endangered such as snow leopards and Rothchild’s giraffes, however the zoo has welcomed another new arrival. A rare male giant otter has arrived at Chester Zoo, with the aim of helping to save its species from extinction.
The three-year-old male giant otter, named Manú, has travelled more than a thousand miles from Budapest Zoo after being chosen as the perfect genetic match for female, Tibiri (aged 8), at Chester Zoo. The duo have been paired up as part of co-ordinated efforts between international zoos that are working to secure a future for the species, and now images have been released of the otters meeting for the very first time, where they are seen swimming and playing together.
Experts estimate that no more than 5,000 giant otters remain across South America and the species has already been wiped out in Uruguay and Argentina. The decline in numbers is a result of mass-scale deforestation, water pollution and illegal hunting, resulting in the species being listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservationists at the zoo say the international breeding programme is now vitally important to the future of the species and that they are hopeful that Manú and Tibiri will go on to have pups together.
Giant otters are the world’s largest species of otter and in the Amazon, they are known as the ‘river wolf’ due to their large, razor sharp teeth and muscular bodies. Otters have a long, streamlined body and webbed feet for swimming, with each otter having unique markings of white or cream fur on their throat and under their chin.
These markings allow every individual to be identified by experts, but unusually, giant otter Manú does not have any markings and his throat is chestnut brown, which makes him easily identifiable from female, Tibiri.
Anna Starkey, Carnivore Keeper at Chester Zoo, said: “Since arriving at the zoo only a few days ago, Manú has settled into his new surroundings very quickly. He’s been carefully matched with female otter Tibiri, based on his important genetics, age and character. So far we’ve seen really positive signs between the two and they can be heard using a range of vocalisations while playfully swimming together, which shows us that they’ve instantly bonded. We’re hopeful that, in their own time, they’ll eventually go on to have pups and help boost global giant otter numbers.
“Giant otters are the apex predators of their South American ecosystems and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of freshwater habitats. They do this by hunting prey populations, keeping the health and biodiversity of their environments in check. But sadly, the wild population feel enormous pressures from pollution and mass deforestation which continue to threaten their survival altogether.
“It will now be the role of conservation zoos like ours to play a pivotal role in turning the tide and safeguarding their future on the planet.”
Chester Zoo is a 128-acre site and home to more than 37,000 animals and more than 500 species. To find out more and plan your visit, head to the zoo website here.