The first short-clawed otters were kept on this site in approx 1987, and their first breeding was in I think 1993. In 1994, the enclosure was refurbished as you see it now, the house at the back was built which uses mirrors to allow a view of the otters inside quarters.
ISIS does indeed show a litter of 2 cubs born to the resident pair of short-clawed otters. It's interesting, as before the refurb all they had was a very small nest box, the idea was to create indoor quarters similar to the Canadian otter exhibit at the time, with a very high ceiling on which a mirror was attached at an angle, so visitors would see the reflection of the sleeping otters at eye level when looking into the house. An idea that was first done with any success at Norfolk Wildlife Park, before Drusillas built 'otter valley' in 1988 for its Canadian Otters.
My question would be, though, is there any need for continued breeding of this species for at least a few years in the UK?
