IPPL’S ASIAN OTTERS
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 4 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.
OTIS
(Male | Born: 7/27/17)
Magana
(Female | Born: 7/14/2020)
Otis is our youngest otter; he loves to climb on things and dig. He is very curious about his surroundings, likes to drink water from his car hood (toddler toy in his enclosure) and is very enthusiastic about meeting whichever staff member that comes out to feed him a meal.
Maggie was originally from Cleveland MetroParks Zoo before she was relocated to IPPL. As the feistiest otter in our sanctuary, Magana is as playful as they come! She and Otis love to forage their pond to find their favorite foods together.
MARTINI
(Male | Born: 04/04/2020)
TURNIP
(Male | Born: 5/21/11)
Turnip is a curious and energetic otter who loves exploring anything new that enters the enclosure and can turn even simple tasks—like planting small shrubs—into playful digging adventures. Martini, an Asian short-clawed otter, came to us from Oklahoma and settled in quickly. Though he was initially hesitant to try out his new pond, he soon took the plunge and now enjoys taking early evening swims as part of his routine.