Two otters, 450 miles apart and living alone, have been brought together in Scotland as part of a bid to help protect a vulnerable species.
Orla, a 13-year-old Asian short-clawed otter at Perthshire Zoo in Auchingarrich, began showing signs of grief after the death of her mate last year.
Her carers launched a nationwide search for a new companion and found one in Surrey, where nine-year-old male otter Ravioli was also living alone at Hobbledown Adventure Park and Zoo.
Asian short-clawed otters are the smallest otter species in the world. They are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
The pair are now living together in Scotland.
The project was organised by Ross Snipp of Total Zoo Solutions, and Jason Palmer, the EEP co-ordinator, helped find the match.
Jamie Verel, park keeper at Auchingarrich, said: “When Ravioli arrived the introduction process was incredibly delicate.
”We started with a ‘patience plan’, moving their enclosures just one inch closer each day over a couple of weeks to allow them to safely bond.
“Finally seeing Orla’s paws hanging through the bars into Ravi’s cage and Ravi gently kissing them has been emotional for the whole team and seems even more poignant ahead of World Otter Day.
“The successful matchmaking of Orla and Ravioli, with them now moving into their new log-pile home together, embodies what our zoo is all about.
“We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation of vulnerable species such as our short-clawed otters and are grateful to Hobbledown Zoo for entrusting Ravioli to us so that both otters could find their own happy ever after.”
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