Giant otter is one of the largest mammal predators in South America. The height of adult males can reach more than 2 meters and weigh more than 30 kgs. Unlike the Asian otter, the giant otter is three times larger than the Small-clawed otter. They inhabit along rivers in South American countries such as Brazil, Suriname, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, Guyana. Just like other otter species, they live in a family consisting of a pair of adults and their young. Giant otter hunts for animals that live in rivers such as fish, kaiman crocodile, and even anaconda snakes. Sometimes they can also kill monkeys near the rivers. They are very brave and protective of their territory even they can protect it from jaguars. Knowing from this habit, the giant otter has the nickname Ariranha which means jaguar water.
We are very proud to announce that these animals were brought to Batu Secret Zoo ahead of Christmas and New Year 2021. After various preparations and international negotiations for almost two years, Batu Secret Zoo was given the trust to become the second zoo in Asia to participate in the Giant otter International breeding program. Batu secret zoo is an official member of the EEP giant otter at EAZA (European Association of Zoo and Aquaria). European Endangered Species Program (EEP) is a program from EAZA that protects more than 400 species of animals in European zoos. With this program, Batu Secret Zoo can receive one male giant otter from River Safari Singapore. “Chico” arrived at our zoo on December 1, 2020. It was born on July 8, 2014. Since Batu Secret Zoo is the first to have this species, the EEP Coordinator of giant otter decided to give one male first. After our team from the zoo has gained more experience in how to care for giant otter, we really hope that in the next few years there will be the female for the breeding program.
Chico will get a very comfortable cage which we have prepared in accordance with the international giant otter standard, which refers to the EEP Husbandary Guidelines. The new cage has an area of 400 m2 and is designed to resemble its natural habitat, which is a river bank. Giant otter will have access to a large pond to be able to swim and hunt fish. The construction of the giant otter enclosure began in the mid-April 2020 and was completed at the end of September 2020, during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This is proof that we, as a conservation agency are committed to do efforts to conserve animals. On December 23, 2020, Batu Secret Zoo officially opened the new Giant Otter animal Exhzibit as a complement to your family’s educational holiday. Visitors will get a chance to see the otter from two viewing areas. The first area will show how otter lives by the river. And, the second area, inside the South American temple building, the otter swim in a pool through 3 large glass, which is shown the underwater scenery, namely otter swimming. In this temple
Giant otter is one of the largest mammal predators in South America. Adult males can measure more than 2 m and weigh more than 30 kg. Unlike the Asian otter, the giant otter is three times larger than the Small-clawed otter. They inhabit along rivers in South American countries such as Brazil, Suriname, Peru, Venezuela, Columbia, Guyana. Just like other otter species, they live in a family consisting of a pair of adults and their young. Giant otter hunts for animals that live in rivers such as fish, crocodile kaiman, and even anaconda snakes. Sometimes they can also kill monkeys that are near the river. They are very brave and very protective of their territory even they can protect it from jaguars. Seeing this habit, the giant otter has the nickname Ariranha which means jaguar water.
We are very proud to announce that these animals were brought to Batu Secret Zoo ahead of Christmas and New Year 2021. After various preparations and international negotiations for almost two years, Batu Secret Zoo was given the trust to become the second zoo in Asia to participate in the Giant Otter International breeding program. Batu secret zoo is an official member of the EEP giant otter at EAZA (European Association of Zoo and Aquaria). European Endangered Species Program (EEP) is a program from EAZA that protects more than 400 species of animals in European zoos. With this program, Batu Secret Zoo can receive one male giant otter from River Safari Singapore. “Chico” arrived at our zoo on December 1, 2020. Chico was born on July 8, 2014. Since Batu Secret Zoo is the first to have this species, the EEP Coordinator giant otter decided to give one male first. After our team from the zoo has gained more experience in how to care for giant otter, we really hope that in the next few years there will be a partner for the breeding program.
Chico will get a very comfortable cage which we have prepared in accordance with the international giant otter standard, which refers to the EEP Husbandary Guidelines. The new cage area for the giant otter has an area of 400 m2 and is designed to resemble its natural habitat, which is a river bank. Giant otter will have access to a large pond to be able to swim and hunt fish. The construction of the giant otter enclosure began in mid-April 2020 and was completed at the end of September 2020, which we know is the period of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This is proof that we as a conservation agency are committed to efforts to conserve animals. On December 23, 2020, Batu secret zoo officially opened the new Giant Otter animal Exhzibit as a complement to your family’s educational holiday.
Our visitors will get a chance to see the otter of the two viewing areas. In the first area, they can see how otter live by the river. In the second area, namely in the South American temple building, visitors can see the underwater scenery, namely otter swimming in a pool through 3 large glass. In this temple building, it is equipped with a description board and educational tools to provide more complete information for visitors.
Giant otter is an endangered species throughout South America, due to hunting and habitat destruction. Batu secret zoo is grateful for being able to participate in the International Breeding Program which will contribute to the conservation of giant otter.