TWO giant otters which can grow up to six feet in length have become the newest arrivals at Jersey Zoo.
Fia and Alexandra arrived in the Island on Thursday from Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The mother and daughter duo can be found in the zoo’s South American House, alongside giant anteater Zena.
Mammals curator Ben Matthews said: “It’s always exciting when we get a new species at the zoo, especially when it’s an animal as charismatic as a giant otter.
“The team at the zoo over the past few months have been working hard to adapt their enclosure ahead of their arrival and it’s great to see how quickly they have both settled in.
“The team are looking forward to sharing more with members and guests over the coming weeks and months about these fascinating creatures and our wider work as a Trust in South America.”
Jersey Zoo is set to host a Giant Otter Celebration Weekend on 9 and 10 August to celebrate Fia and Alexandra.
During the weekend there will be additional talks and feeds from the zoo’s expert keepers, as well as face painting and other activities for guests to enjoy.
Entry for this weekend is free for members; normal admission fees apply for non-members.
What is a giant otter?
Found in South America, giant otters are the largest species of otter and the largest member of the mustelid family – which includes weasels, mink and badgers.
They can grow up to 1.8m long and weigh up to 32 kg.
Giant otters are classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
They are under threat from habitat loss due to logging and damming of rivers for electricity, a lack of prey due to overfishing, and water pollution from mining and farming.
They are also hunted illegally for their fur and meat.
