IPPL’s sanctuary residents has always included some Asian short-clawed otters. When living in Thailand, our founder, Shirley McGreal, fell in love with this petite, playful species and IPPL taken in a number of retired otters over the years. Currently IPPL has six resident otters. Otter couples have their own pond, hay-filled house, and fenced-in wooded yard.

All the otters like to play in their small water tubs and are highly curious. They all love mealworms, although some of them will play with the mealworm for a while before actually eating them. They all get hard-boiled eggs a couple times a week, but always squish off the white part because they only seem to like the yolks. Their favorite lunch consists of chicken hearts and gizzards, and they all like to make a big mess inside their houses!

They are adorable, lively little animals who keep our gibbons entertained as they watch the otters antics.