Two baby Oriental Small-clawed Otters born
in April at Switzerland's Zoo Basel are providing endless entertainment as they play with the
Rhinoceros family that shares their exhibit.

Photo Credit:  Zoo Basel

The first time that one-year-old bull Rhinoceros
Jari came to the enclosure, the otters all ran along behind him and boldly
nipped his hind legs. Fortunately, Jari has very thick skin – and lucky for the
otters, Jari’s mother chose to chastise them by simply ignoring them and
walking off.

When the Otters aren’t pestering the
Rhinos, they are often followed around by
young wild Crows, who peck them from behind with their beaks.  When the inter-species conflict subsides, the
adult Otters are teaching the two youngsters their Otter ABCs. The
first lesson: how to dive without drowning.

Zoo Basel’s Otter/Rhino enclosure is
specifically designed to meet the needs of these agile little rascals. Aside
from dens where they can produce their young, the exhibit is surrounded by a
shallow stream where the Otters search for food.  Basking areas and the tree stump are also
popular, offering visitors a wonderful view of the animals. 

Oriental Small-clawed Otters are one of the few
Otter species to live together in large extended families. They live in Asia
next to rivers and shallow waters, and feed primarily on smaller aquatic life, such as Snails and Mussels. Unlike other Otters, they do not hunt for fish in deep water, but
instead feel around in the watery sludge for food using their finger-like paws.
When they catch something, they first wash it before chowing down.

See more photos of the Otters below the fold.