Loveland Living Planet Aquarium recently welcomed an Asian small-clawed otter. The otter, who came to Draper via North Carolina Aquarium, was born at Ocean Park Hong Kong in 2020. His parents, named Si and Fun, were confiscated by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and relocated to Ocean Park in 2018. Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest species of otter. They live in rivers, freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps throughout South and Southeastern Asia. Unlike the larger North American river otters, Asian small-clawed otters have shorter claws. They use them to capture the crabs, fish and other small aquatic animals that comprise their diet. Asian small-clawed otters are playful, intelligent and social animals. Because of threats such as habitat loss, poaching and the illegal pet trade, they are protected in almost all range countries. Asian small-clawed otters are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan Program which seeks to maintain biologically sustainable populations. (Photo courtesy Loveland Living Planet Aquarium) λ