The Giant Otter is the world’s largest otter species, measuring up to 1.8m and weighing 32 kg. They live in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata river systems and feed mainly on fish and the occasional crustaceans, snakes and baby caiman. Each animal may eat 3 to 4 kilos of food per day.
Giant Otters live in family groups of up to 20 animals (though groups of 5 –9 are more common) which include an adult pair or harem and the offspring from several breeding seasons. They are active during the day and have a home range of almost 13km. They spend the night in large burrows in the lake or river bank with a worn slide into the water.
The Giant Otter is endangered as a result of overhunting for the skin trade and killed because of competition with man for fish. Only a few thousand can now be found in the wild.
For some of the best places to see Giant Otters, click on the links to your left.
