Australasian Asian Small-clawed Otter Population

Tiger91 said:
Do we know of any reason why the trend is to keep either a breeding pair or siblings. I remember seeing a breeding pair with there young at western plains zoo in the early 2000's. There must have been 6 to 8 on display. Same with taronga there exhibit is decent and they used to hold more then just a pair. Which seems to there normal unless they have young.
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A lot of it would depend on personalities. Sometimes the young can remain in the family group for several years. Melbourne and Adelaide’s groups are examples of this. Other times, conflict necessitates earlier separation. This was the case for Auckland Zoo’s large group of brothers, where two had to be separated due to fighting; with the remainder living together cohesively.

A lot of zoos that breed retain their otters into young adulthood, so they can observe the raising of siblings; and for the sake of forming large same sex siblings groups to disperse to non-breeding holders. Auckland Zoo’s last breeding pair had two litters of triplets in 2019; followed by a litter of five in 2020. It was a thrill to see 13 otters on exhibit before their seperation into two same sex packs.
 
Returning holder - Gorge:

Gorge once again holds Asian-small clawed otter, with the arrival of five males from Perth Zoo:

Otters on the move

1.0 Cerdik (2014) Juno x Jeta
1.0 Sawatdi (2019) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Amir (2020) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Tom (2020) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Ulani (2020) Cerdik x Paddy

This transfer leaves Perth Zoo with 1.1 otters:

1.0 Saati (2018) Ketut x Pia
0.1 Squid (2020) Odie x Paula
 
Australasian Asian Small-clawed Otter Population (2025)

2024 was a quiet year with no births and one death (as well as a second which occurred in 2023, but was not reported until 2024).

Tasmania Zoo’s four females remain nameless as of February 2025.

New Zealand:

Auckland Zoo:

1.0 Agus (2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Hendra (2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Ika (2020) Kanan x Takumi

Brooklands Zoo:

0.1 Akira (2019) Harry x Jafar
0.1 Luna (2019) Harry x Jafar
0.1 Katara (2020) Harry x Jafar
0.1 Suki (2020) Harry x Jafar

Butterfly Creek:

0.1 Asia (2009) Imported 2011 (USA)
1.0 Mai (2013) Tuan x Asia
0.1 Charvi (2013) Tuan x Asia
0.1 Kiri (2013) Tuan x Asia

Orana Wildlife Park:

1.0 Ikan (2018) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Tiga (2018) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Siak (2018) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Tuk (2018) Cerdik x Paddy

Wellington Zoo:

1.0 Eko (2012) Tuan x Asia
1.0 Si (2012) Tuan x Asia
1.0 Jambi (2013) Tuan x Asia
1.0 Bhutan (2013) Tuan x Asia

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve:

0.1 Takumi (2015) Pocket x Emiko
0.1 Indah (2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Dewi (2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Mimpi (2020) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Murni (2020) Kanan x Takumi

Australia:

Adelaide Zoo:

1.0 Bao (2012) Doan x Boo
0.1 Kalaya (2015) Juno x Jeta
1.0 Rama (2019) Bao x Kalaya
0.1 Mali (2019) Bao x Kalaya
1.0 Riann (2020) Bao x Kalaya
0.1 Mani (2020) Bao x Kalaya

Australia Zoo:

1.0 Percival (2014) Pocket x Emiko
0.1 Daisy (2015) Pocket x Emiko

Gorge Wildlife Park:

1.0 Cerdik (2014) Juno x Jeta
1.0 Sawatdi (2019) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Amir (2020) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Tom (2020) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Ulani (2020) Cerdik x Paddy

Halls Gap Zoo:

0.1 Paddy (2010) Imported 2011 (Germany)
0.1 Bibi (2019) Cerdik x Paddy
0.1 Bulan (2019) Cerdik x Paddy
0.1 Botum (2020) Cerdik x Paddy

Melbourne Zoo:

1.0 Odie (2017) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.1 Paula (2010) Imported 2011 (Germany)
1.0 Gunther (2020) Odie x Paula
1.0 Murphy (2020) Odie x Paula
1.0 Rodney (2020) Odie x Paula

Mogo Wildlife Park:

1.0 Bulan (2014) Pocket x Emiko
1.0 Ravi (2015) Pocket x Emiko

National Zoo & Aquarium:

1.0 Bal (2012) Doan x Boo
0.1 Pai (2018) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Basil (2020) Bal x Pai
1.0 Chester (2020) Bal x Pai
0.1 Josey (2020) Bal x Pai

Perth Zoo:

1.0 Saati (2018) Ketut x Pia
0.1 Squid (2020) Odie x Paula

Rockhampton Zoo:

1.0 Tomio (2018) Pocket x Emiko
0.1 Misumi (2015) Pocket x Emiko

Sydney Zoo:

1.0 Intan (2017) Ketut x Pia
0.1 Saigon (2018) Cerdik x Paddy

Taronga Zoo:

1.0 Ketut (2012) Tuan x Asia
0.1 Pia (2010) Imported 2011 (Germany)

1.0 Anng (2019) Harry x Jafar
0.1 Bel (2012) Doan x Boo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

1.0 Harry (2014) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.1 Jafar (2015) Pocket x Emiko
1.0 Tai (2020) Harry x Jafar

Tasmania Zoo:

0.1 Unnamed (Unknown) Imported 2023 (Singapore)
0.1 Unnamed (Unknown) Imported 2023 (Singapore)
0.1 Unnamed (Unknown) Imported 2023 (Singapore)
0.1 Unnamed (Unknown) Imported 2023 (Singapore)

Total population: 37.33 otters
 
Jaiden said:
Thanks Zoofan15 I really appreciate this:) I wonder will Perth zoo get more Otters or would they wait for Squid and Saati breed?
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That’s a good question. Their mothers are sisters, so despite them being referenced by the zoo as a pair, I’m hopeful it’s just a social pairing and the zoo will source an unrelated mate for at least one of them; or import a second pair from overseas.

Some new founders would be valuable. The Tasmania females are most likely related to the Singapore imports we already have (Odie and Harry), which would explain why they’ve yet to enter the breeding programme.
 
Upcoming Holder - Billabong Zoo

Thank you to @baekho100 for the information that the following otters will be transferring from the National Zoo and Aquarium to Billabong Zoo in the near future:

1.0 Basil (2020) Bal x Pai
0.1 Josey (2020) Bal x Pai

Billabong Zoo will be the region’s 20th holder; with their transfer leaving the National Zoo with 2.1 otters:

1.0 Bal (2012) Doan x Boo
0.1 Pai (2018) Cerdik x Paddy
1.0 Chester (2020) Bal x Pai
 
Jambo said:
Odie was born in March 2017, and has three littermates. He (and his littermates) were unfortunately rejected at birth, and so were handraised.

I'd assume Harry would be an older sibling rather than his father.
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Correction:

Odie was born 15/01/2017, Paula 03/06/2010.

Also, on Melbourne's otters, I only saw two otters in the previous habitat. I was at the exhibit for around 20 or so minutes yesterday, as they were very active. The zoo should have a third though.
 
Si (2012-2025)

Si has died at Wellington Zoo, leaving the zoo with three males:

1.0 Eko (2012) Tuan x Asia
1.0 Jambi (2013) Tuan x Asia
1.0 Bhutan (2013) Tuan x Asia

From socials:

It is with a heavy heart that we are letting you know that our beloved Otter, Si, passed away over the weekend.

Earlier this year, Si was being treated for kidney stones along with a number of degenerative age-related health conditions, and he was placed on an intensive health care plan by our Mammals and Veterinary Teams to closely monitor his welfare.

Unfortunately, Si started to struggle to keep up with the rest of the group because of his symptoms and his quality of life was affected. As with all the animals we care for, Si's welfare is our top priority, and once it was clear that managing his conditions could no longer effectively prevent him from experiencing physical pain, the decision to euthanise him was made.
 
Auckland Zoo Update

In recent months, I’ve only seen two otters on exhibit when visiting Auckland Zoo.

I confirmed on my visit on 31/10/2025 that Hendra and Ika are the two on display; while Agus is still alive, but held off display.

1.0 Hendra (2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Ika (2020) Kanan x Takumi

1.0 Agus (2020) Kanan x Takumi - off display

Due to the time they’ve been separated, there would be little to no hope of a successful reintroduction. Presumably the intention is to wait until a zoo in the region requires a male to pair with a lone female. Wellington for example could acquire one of Willowbank’s females (siblings of Agus) to pair with Agus for companionship purposes when their three elderly males (aged 12-13 years) have passed.
 
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