Giant otter flown to Chester Zoo to help save his species from extinction

Chester Zoo are pinning the future of a rare otter species on a carefully planned bit of matchmaking.

The three-year-old giant otter, named Manu, has been flown over 1,000 miles from Budapest Zoo with hopes pinned on a successful integration with Chester's resident female Tibiri. Manu has been chosen as an ideal genetic match for eight year old Tibiri, as part of a crucial breeding programme aimed at saving the highly endangered species.

The heartwarming first encounter between the otters was captured in charming photographs where they can be seen frolicking and paddling together.

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Anna Starkey, carnivore keeper at Chester Zoo, said: "Since arriving at the zoo only a few days ago, Manu has settled into his new surroundings very quickly. He's been carefully matched with female otter Tibiri, based on his important genetics, age and character."

Encouragingly, Anna reports: "So far we've seen really positive signs between the two and they can be heard using a range of vocalisations while playfully swimming together, which shows us that they've instantly bonded. We're hopeful that, in their own time, they'll eventually go on to have pups and help boost global giant otter numbers."

"Giant otters are the apex predators of their South American ecosystems and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of freshwater habitats. They do this by hunting prey populations, keeping the health and biodiversity of their environments in check."

"But sadly, the wild population feel enormous pressures from pollution and mass deforestation which continue to threaten their survival altogether. It will now be the role of conservation zoos like ours to play a pivotal role in turning the tide and safeguarding their future on the planet."

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has now listed the species as endangered meaning they face a very high chance of becoming extinct in future. Environmentalists say their decline in numbers is a result of mass-scale deforestation, water pollution and illegal hunting.

Experts estimate that no more than 5,000 giant otters remain across South America and the species has already been wiped out in Uruguay and Argentina.

Giant otters are the world's largest species of otter and, in the Amazon, they are known as the 'river wolf' due to their large, razor sharp teeth and muscular bodies. They can grow up to 1.8 m (5ft 11in) and each otter has unique markings of white or cream fur on their throat and under their chin, which allows each individual to be identified by experts.

Unusually, giant otter Manu does not have any markings and his throat is chestnut brown, which makes him easily identifiable from female, Tibiri.

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