World Otter Day | 31 May

We celebrated World Otter Day on 31 May. Otters are beautiful, playful animals and there are 13 different species, 12 of which are disappearing in the wild. Seven of these species are classified as vulnerable and five are endangered.

Intaka Island and the surrounding canals are home to the Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis). The Cape Clawless Otters are one of four otter species that live in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cape Clawless Otters are fortunately not threatened in South Africa.  The International Otter Survival Fund founded World Otter Day with two goals in mind. Firstly, to help raise awareness of the dangers that otters face and secondly, to educate people on how to protect the habitats of the otters.

Otters are protected under South Africa’s Animals Protection Act, and the Threatened and Protected Species Act. Please help raise awareness around the species so we can enjoy seeing them around for many years to come.

Thanks to Marieta Foord for the amazing image that she shared of one of our very own otters on the popular Facebook community page Intaka Island Gem of the Western Cape.

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