Happy #WorldOtterDay! The L.A. Zoo is home to vivacious giant otters. As you might guess, this is the largest otter species, and individuals may grow up to six feet in length. They live on the banks of streams, lakes, and swamps in the Orinoco, Amazon, and La Plata river systems of South America. Listed as endangered according to the IUCN red list, their main threats are poaching, habitat destruction, and pollution. The Zoo supports field research conducted by conservation organization OnePlanet

A giant river otter, the largest of the 13 otter species found worldwide, approaches a remote camera in Brazil’s Pantanal wetland. These fascinating creatures have lost almost 80% of their historical range due to the demand for their pelts and habitat destruction. They are currently classified as endangered by the IUCN. #otters #otter #brazil #pantanal | A Wild Connection