Asian small-clawed otter
Aonyx cinereus
Seen by the oracleIts power
It sees with its fingers. In murky water where it can’t see a thing, it finds crabs by touch.
Estimated wild population
Not estimated (world population unknown)
Trend
Declining (estimated 30% over 30 years)
Range
India / Sri Lanka / southern China / Malaysia / Indonesia
Main threat
Destruction of mangroves and wetlands, pollution, trade in fur and pets
Meet it
It really exists. It is waiting for you at the Parc Animalier d’Auvergne.
The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species, weighing no more than 3 kg. Its paws are partly webbed, and its short, blunt claws let it catch slippery prey such as fish, crabs and shellfish with great skill. It is very social and lives in family groups of 4 to 12, where couples stay together for life and everyone helps raise the young. It can hold its breath for up to 8 minutes. It makes about a dozen different sounds. It is threatened by the destruction of mangroves and coastal wetlands, by pollution and by hunting for its fur.
What the Park does
National parks in Southeast Asia, EEP programme, monitoring of illegal markets