Asian clawed cutter

"These otters are very playful. A favorite activity is juggling a pebble."

Discover in real life
Asian clawed cutterAonyx cinereus
  • Habitat

    South India and southern China

  • Food

    clams, mussels, crabs, amphibians and fish

  • Lifetime

    12 years

  • Weight

    5 kilos

  • Number of youngsters

    1 to 7

  • Wear time

    2.5 months

  • IUCN Status

    Vulnerable

  • EEP

    No

5

kilograms, that's how much this otter weighs

12

years, that's how old an otter can get

2,5

months, which is the gestation period of this otter

Habitat and threats

Asian clawed otters live in Southeast Asia, near shallow water. They live near both salt and fresh water. There is usually dense vegetation nearby. They use this to hide in case of danger. Small-clawed otters dig burrows in the banks to sleep in.

Over the last 60 years, the range of the Asian clawed otter has been shrinking. This is mainly due to land use by humans. Coffee and tea plantations are being established and cities and villages are being built. In addition, small-clawed otters suffer from overfishing and pollution. As a result, there is less and less food for the otters. Finally, there is also much hunting of small-clawed otters, both for their fur and for the illegal pet trade.

Aziatische kleinklauwotter Jangalee Close-up ZooParc Overloon

Species conservation in Eindhoven Zoo

Did you know that more than 4000 animal species are threatened with extinction? Eindhoven Zoo works together with about 325 European zoos to preserve and protect these species. Together we form EAZA: the European Zoo Association. We work for more than 400 animal species together in EEPs. EEP stands for EAZA Ex situ Program where Ex Situ means "outside the natural habitat. The Asian small-clawed otter at Eindhoven Zoo are part of an EEP coordinated by the designated coordinator. This person maintains a studbook of data on a particular species and manages the zoo population. The coordinator, together with a committee, makes recommendations on which animals may have offspring together, which animals must move to other parks to do so, and which ones. The chance of healthy offspring and thus keeping the species alive is greatest this way. On the signs in Eindhoven Zoo you can recognize animals with an EEP by the logo of a rhino and her calf.

Learn more about the Asian small-clawed otter

Meet the other animals in Eindhoven Zoo