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- Where and how do otters live?
- Is there a domestic otter?
- How to take care of an otter?
- Is it cool to have a pet otter in Brazil?
THE otter is an animal belonging to the mustelid family (Mustelidae) and there are eight different species, all protected due to the imminent danger of extinction. If you're thinking about having an otter as a pet, or if you've heard of someone who has one, you should know that this is totally prohibited by law and which can lead to considerable fines and penalties if the otter is kept in captivity.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will talk about the way of life that this animal has in nature, about why it's not right to have an otter as a pet and what to do when you find one.
Where and how do otters live?
THE european otter (fight fight) used to inhabit all of Europe, from the most arctic areas to North Africa and part of Asia. From the middle of the 20th century, many of its populations disappeared due to the persecution of human beings, the shortage of food, the destruction of their habitat and contamination.
All otters, with the exception of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), live in rivers, lakes, marshes, lagoons or any place where there is clear water surrounded by very dense forest vegetation. Their burrows are on the banks, taking advantage of the natural caves. They don't have a single lair, and each day they can rest in a different one, as long as it's within their territory.
They feed almost exclusively on aquatic animals, fish, crustaceans, amphibians or reptileshowever, if the above items are not available, they may come out of the water and hunt small mammals or birds. With the exception of the sea otter, which never leaves the ocean throughout its life.
Otters are usually lonely animals, and they only come together during courtship and copulation, or when the mother is with her cubs until they leave her. They can reproduce throughout the year, but generally regulate their cycles according to the dry season and the abundance of their favorite prey.
Is there a domestic otter?
In countries like Japan or Argentina, there is a new "trend" that consists of having an otter as a pet. Although it may seem docile and manageable, the otter is a wild animal, which has not gone through a process of domestication, something that would take hundreds of years.
people usually buy illegally the animal when it is still a calf, and that is why it is separated from its mother very early. Otter cubs need to stay with their mother for at least 18 months, as they learn from her everything they need to live. The fact that they are solitary animals is another reason why they should not be pets, as they would be accompanied most of the time. Also, at home they could not develop all of their natural behaviors, as people do not usually have rivers or lakes in their homes.
Also, these animals actually become aggressive when they are in heat, a condition in which they spend most of their adult life.
How to take care of an otter?
If you see an adult otter and you think it might be seriously injured or that it needs veterinary attention, it's best to keep an eye on the distance while you call 112 or the forestry agents in your area. Do not try to catch it, as it can attack you and, being a mammal, it is capable of transmit a multitude of infections and parasites.
If, on the other hand, you find a puppy that would not survive on its own, you can put it in a cardboard box large enough, put a blanket to protect it from the cold (if it is) and take it to a wildlife recovery center, or call forestry agents.
Is it cool to have a pet otter in Brazil?
In Brazil, illegal trafficking and hunting of wild animals are crimes provided for by law, which means that their capture or trade is completely prohibited, just like in any other country in the world. The management of these species is allowed only for scientific reasons, for the study of populations or their reintroduction into the natural environment. In addition, the otter is included in the Berne Convention due to its imminent extinction.
For this reason, and also because the otter is not a domestic animal, but a wild one, you can't have a pet otter. Learn more in the following video:
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