10 interesting facts about otters

Otters are often seen as playful and curious, but there’s a lot more to them. In the wild, they’re intelligent predators with complex behaviours, and they play a crucial role in keeping river and coastal ecosystems healthy.

Sadly, many otter species are under threat due to habitat loss, pollution, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Here are 10 facts you might not know about otters

1. There are 13 different species of otter

From the small-clawed otter found in Asia to the giant otter of South America, there are 13 recognised species. All but one are declining, and several are listed as vulnerable or endangered.

2. Otters are vital to healthy ecosystems

Otters are top predators in many freshwater and coastal environments. That means they help control prey populations and keep ecosystems in balance. When otters disappear, it’s often a sign that something’s gone badly wrong with the environment.

3. They’re incredibly smart

Otters have been observed using tools – like rocks – to crack open shellfish. Some species also have excellent memories, helping them return to successful hunting grounds and teach young otters how to find food.

4. Otter families are tight-knit

In species like the Eurasian and giant otters, families stick together. Parents raise pups cooperatively, with older siblings sometimes helping out. In the wild, these bonds are essential for learning survival skills.

5. Many otters are at risk from the exotic pet trade

Otters are increasingly being caught from the wild and sold as pets – especially in parts of Southeast Asia. Baby otters are taken from their families, often kept in poor conditions, and traded illegally online. Life in captivity is no substitute for the wild.

6. Habitat loss is a major threat

Across the world, otters are losing their homes. Wetlands are drained, rivers are polluted, and coastlines are developed. Even in places where otters are protected by law, their habitats often are not.

7. Otters have incredible fur and it puts them in danger

Otters have the densest fur of any mammal – with up to a million hairs per square inch. It’s one of the reasons they were hunted so heavily in the past, and in some places, illegal poaching still happens today.

8. Noise and disturbance put otters at risk

Otters are sensitive animals. Increased boat traffic, riverside development, and human activity near breeding areas can drive them away from critical habitats or disrupt reproduction.

9. Not all otters love to swim

While sea otters and river otters are well-known swimmers, some species – like the Congo clawless otter – spend more time on land and are harder to study as a result.

10. You can help protect otters – by protecting nature

Protecting rivers, wetlands and coastal habitats helps otters thrive. So does supporting responsible tourism, reporting suspected illegal wildlife trade, and pushing governments to crack down on cruelty and habitat destruction.