Otters in zoo collections require carefully designed aquatic enrichment and appropriate social housing to meet the needs of these energetic, socially complex animals.
Otter welfare in captivity requires providing for the high activity and foraging drive of these energetic animals. Otters that cannot forage actively and swim extensively show stereotypic behaviours and reduced welfare. Large pools that allow swimming and diving, varied substrates including sand and vegetation for scent marking, and daily foraging enrichment that requires effort to obtain food are welfare necessities. Social management must balance the social needs of Asian small-clawed otters against same-sex territorial aggression in breeding season. Visitor engagement with otter feeding presentations can be welfare-compatible if fish provision is incorporated into enrichment rather than simply hand-fed.