Otterly Brilliant : Otters Get New Home At College

Otterly Brilliant : Otters Get New Home At College

Bishop Burton College is preparing to welcome two new arrivals who are having their home built from scratch. Work has begun on an otter enclosure, which will house a male and female pair of Asian Short Clawed Otters.

Clare Reed, Animal Management Curator and Unit Manager at the College, is looking forward to their arrival. She said,

“I was keen to introduce otters to the College as we don’t currently have any aquatic mammals so it’s a new area for the Animal Management students in which to gain experience. I have worked with otters previously at Drusillas and Blackpool Zoos, so will be able to pass on my knowledge to both staff and students. The technicians here are already preparing by gaining experience with otters elsewhere as part of their ongoing career development.

“Otters also make good training projects as they can be trained to sit and stay in certain areas when being fed and handled.”

Known for their mischievous and playful nature, otters require both land and water in their habitat. Clare worked with architects CAD Associates when planning the new enclosure, which will feature a running stream and pond, land area and a ‘holt’, or otter house. Otters typically eat fish, mice, insects and eggs and the facility will enable students to learn all aspects of feeding and husbandry.

The pair, known as Bea and Phil, will make their way from their current home at Lakes Aquarium in time to greet visitors to the College’s Town and Country Day on Sunday 26 May.



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