27/05/2026
Happy World Otter Day! 🦦🌍
We love otters here at the New Forest Wildlife Park. They are intelligent mustelids, who are essential to healthy rivers, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems. Unfortunately the 14 different species are under pressure from habitat loss, pollution, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change, causing 13 of which to be classified as threatened by the IUCN Redlist.
Today we’re shining a spotlight on our four remarkable species and why they need our support:
🦦 Asian Short-Clawed Otter
The world’s smallest otter species, native to South and Southeast Asia. Their population has declined by 30% in the last 30 years and will continue declining due to habitat destruction and the exotic pet trade.
🦦 Smooth-Coated Otter
Once widespread across Asia, smooth-coated otters are facing rapid population declines as wetlands disappear and waterways become polluted.
🦦 Giant Otter
Found in the rivers of South America, giant otters are endangered in many areas. Fewer than 5,000 are believed to remain in the wild, making conservation efforts critical for their survival.
🦦 Eurasian Otter
A true conservation success story in some regions, Eurasian otters have slowly recovered thanks to cleaner rivers and legal protection, showing that conservation works when people take action.
How you can help otters:
✔️ Support wetland and river conservation projects
✔️ Reduce plastic pollution and chemical waste
✔️ Never support the illegal exotic pet trade
✔️ Support zoos and organisations involved in otter conservation and education
✔️ Raise awareness about protecting freshwater ecosystems
Every healthy river tells a story, otters are one of the clearest signs that nature is thriving.
This World Otter Day, let’s help ensure future generations can continue to share the planet with these incredible animals 💚
