Labuk Bay is also home to these “otterly” adorable creatures.
ORIENTAL SMALL-CLAWED OTTER
The dangers of being cute
The smallest of the otter species, the Oriental Small-clawed Otter has a small, rounded head with a short snout, giving them a very cute and appealing appearance. Unfortunately, this cuteness led to a demand for them as exotic pets, which in turn has led to widespread poaching of young pups—only very young pups can be tamed. As otters are pack animals that travel in groups of up to 15, an entire family of otters could be harmed just to poach one young pup.
As their name suggest, they have very short claws and strong dexterous fingers in order to grab hold of their specialized diet of crabs and shellfishes. This is in contrast with other species of otters which have longer claws in order to aid them in hunting for fishes.
Hanyut’s Story
Labuk Bay’s once domesticated otter
Hanyut came to Labuk Bay when she was separated from her family as a young pup due to unusual tidal waves caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. She was nursed by a mother dog who had her own litter of puppies. Several families of otters still roam the waterways of Labuk Bay, however since they’re typically active after sunset, they could be hard to spot.
Unlike any otter
Because of her foster family, Hanyut was very accustomed to the presence of people. Her behaviour is quite atypical of a wild otter as she was more a ‘puppy’ than a wild animal. She spent her days sunbathing on the observation decks and playing with her canine siblings.
Sweet, loving, and cuddly
Hanyut was affectionate and friendly. Not one to shy from strangers, she was always seen cuddling up to guests seeking pets and hugs.
Unfortunately, Hanyut was lost to Labuk Bay when she was kidnapped by a couple of visitors. She will always be remembered fondly and missed at the sanctuary.
A gallery of Hanyut’s life in Labuk Bay.
MORE INFORMATION
NOSE OUT
Learn more about the stars of Labuk Bay and their lives in the mangroves.
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