They also are increasingly common in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Asian otters at risk from illegal trade to meet booming demand in Japan. The main destination is Japan, where one otter pup can fetch up to $10,000 (about 9,000 euros). Kyodo. It is seriously concerning that otters are being traded in the illegal pet trade across Southeast Asia, and in Japan in particular. ANSWER: And while smuggling otters into Japan is illegal, the Japan Times reports that once the otters are in the country, people can buy and sell them freely. Amid the growing demand for pet otters, hunters and fishermen in Indonesia and Thailand especially are increasingly killing adult otters and snatching the babies, which are caged and shipped off to become exotic pets. Jan 3, 2021. Jul 17, 2018 Article history. ; In a new documentary, British environmentalist and photojournalist Aaron Gekoski worked with World Animal Protection, an international nonprofit organisation, to investigate the state of these animals. It’s the Asian small-clawed otter, the latest pet craze in Japan. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/.../01/wild-otters-popular-exotic-pets Poached to the brink of extinction Because of these cafes and images of pet otters on social media, wild otters are being hunted and trafficked out of existence to satisfy growing international demand. Otter and wild animal cafés – coffee shops that have otters on display and in some cases available for holding or petting by customers – are also part of this problem. The predominant online content available these days, shows “cute” pet otters in unnatural environments, doing “cute” things, enticing more people to procure otters for themselves as pets. Currently, it is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. News; Trade in Small-Clawed Otters, Popular as Pets in Japan, to Be Banned; Trade in Small-Clawed Otters, Popular as Pets in Japan, to Be Banned. The pet trade is mostly for Asian small-clawed otters but smooth-coated otters are also smuggled. It is a carnivore mammal under Family Mustelidae, Subfamily Lutrinae. Otter cafés. Group Bull. Sakura the otter and Mochi the cat were filmed falling asleep together at home #otters #ottercafe #worldanimalprotection All 12 have long, powerful tails that are lacking in the marine species. 37 (2): 71 - 79 Keywords: Disease, Management of wildlife, Veterinary, Wildlife law, Welfare INTRODUCTION As many articles report, otters are becoming one of the most popular animals in Japan these days (New York Times, 2019). Otters are rare as pets, so you shouldn’t even rely on second-hand information from other exotic pet owners. I'll try to give an explanation up here that will be make things clear. Situation of Pet Otters in Japan – Warning by Vets. Well I did come come across an instragram account of a pet otter in Japan, and I never saw a outdoor cage in the account. @otterpet/instagram . Otter cafes. Japan has seen an explosion in otter cafes over recent years. Some people have their own pet otters, while others play with them in so-called “otter cafes.” The animals are easily purchased online, but the trade comes at a terrible cost; otters are difficult to breed, so virtually all otters available for purchase are poached from the wild. I can go on for hours about telling you the reasons why otters aren't pets. Breeds. Japan is home to tons of animalcafes, many of which charge visitors to pet and spend time with Asian small-clawed otters, a threatened species. They create their dens by making burrows in the land near water bodies. Online: Jul 17, 2018; Last Modified: Jul 17, 2018; PRINT; SHARE Japan was found to … By. FAMILY ANIMALS. Tokyo, Japan, 19th October 2018—a boom in demand for otters as pets in Japan, particularly the Small-clawed Otter, has been linked to rising numbers of “otter cafés”, high-profile television programmes featuring otters and celebrities, and the popularity of otter pet “superstars” on social media platforms. The Natural Habitat of Otters. In Japan, there are more than a dozen animal cafes featuring otters. It's totally sad to keep an otter that’s raised by other otters without some of their own species. Asian Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) is the smallest among the 13 otter species in the world. Otters are semi-aquatic animals and need both land and water to survive. In addition to pet ownership in South East Asia, Japan is currently undergoing an ‘otter craze’ fuelled primarily by Instagram-famous pet otters who are shown off on television and social media.Otter and wild animal cafés – coffee shops that have otters on display and in some cases available for holding or petting by customers – are also part of this problem. IUCN Otter Spec. The remaining 12 otter species are typically classified together as being river otters. This list will never be completed, because of the many reasons why. The last confirmed sighting of an otter … So, when you have a pet otter, you should be extra careful when you are having visitors as there are high chances of your friends and family getting bitten by your otter. It is the smallest otter species in the world and a member of the otter subfamily Lutrinae, itself part of the Mustelidae. Conservation groups have identified the Asian small-clawed otter as a species… A good place to start checking for information on pet otter laws is under ‘fur-bearing’ terms. If you’d like to learn more about otters and the exotic pet trade, the link to our documentary for @world_animal_protection is in my bio. A lot of the trade is now done through social media and, according to TRAFFIC, 750,000 people have subscribed to a popular “otter account” in Japan. Each animal at these venues is suffering for the sake of entertainment. An otter being held by the neck in a cafe in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to the ecological cost of capturing wild otters as pets, people who own pet otters may face unexpected hardships. An otter has been spotted in Japan for the first time in almost four decades, according a Scottish charity assisting Japanese conservationists. Also They really have an annoying squeal. Japan is home to tons of animal cafés, many of which charge visitors to pet and spend time with Asian small-clawed otters, a threatened species. Pet otters aren't just big in Japan. Poached to the brink of extinction Because of these cafes and images of pet otters on social media, wild otters are being hunted and trafficked out of existence to satisfy growing international demand. In addition to pet ownership in South East Asia, Japan is currently undergoing an ‘otter craze’ fueled primarily by Instagram-famous pet otters who are shown off on television and social media. In Indonesia, the rare hairy-nosed otter has also been found being kept as a pet, but they are extremely difficult to look after and usually die. Related Articles. Breeds. How Long Do German Shepherds Live? It is thought that hundreds of small-clawed otters are being reared in the country. Melissa A Smith. It is a nocturnal animal that feeds on small fishes, crabs, shrimps, and various kinds of shellfishes. Native otters are hunted for their fur and are often regulated in this category. However multiple concerns have been raised about the animals’ welfare. By Larry … All otter species have high metabolic rates, implying that they must consume food constantly to maintain body temperature and also function in the water. More otters smuggled for sale in Japan as demand as pets grows. News from Japan… Most of the illegally traded otters are shipped to Japan, where the animals become pets at home or attractions in otter cafes. An otter being held by the neck in a cafe in Tokyo, Japan. Top 10 Smartest Cat Breeds. Otterly cute: Pet otter cuddles up to cat as the unlikely playmates go to sleep at their home in Japan. By Sam Shepards . Would it require witchcraft for an otter to stay alive like that? The internet has largely driven their popularity and trade as pets… It also linked the boom in demand for otters as pets in Japan to a rising number of "otter cafes", adding that Japan has a long-standing global reputation as a major market for exotic pets. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), also known as the oriental small-clawed otter or simply small-clawed otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to South and Southeast Asia. Otters are animals that live in family groups. Otter Instagram craze in Japan and Indonesia drives surge in deadly poaching, threatening species' survival. A ban on the international commercial trade of endangered otters found in Southeast Asia will take effect later this month to protect the animals affected by habitat loss and smuggling, amid booming demand for them as pets in Japan. But in Japan, the number of pet lovers and "animal cafes" has increased dramatically. 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