World Otter Day – 29th May

World Otter Day – ^29th May

World Otter Day occurs on the last Wednesday of May, which is May 29 this year.

Otters are beautiful, playful animals that live in wetlands across the world. Otters are mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine.Otter can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuariesin cold, warm, or even high-elevation areasas long as the habitat provides adequate food. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows.

Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their abilities for holding breath underwater. Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails. The 13 species range in adult size from 0.6 to 1.8 m in length and 1 to 45 kg in weight. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest. They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry, warm, and somewhat buoyant under water.The feces of otters are typically identified by their distinctive aroma, the smell of which has been described as ranging from freshly mown hay to putrefied fish;these are known as spraints.

Otters are carnivores. The staple diet of most of otter in the wild is fish, frogs, small birds and eggs. Small mammals may also be eaten.

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is the only species of otters found in Sri Lanka.

Nearly all species of otters face increasing threats as urbanization and logging continue. Species are declining due to habitat destruction, reduction of prey, roadkill, and illegal trade for fur and as pets.

– Source: Internet –