Penny & Kenai take their trip to the vet
Our Asian small-clawed otters make their annual trip to the vet.
Our Asian small-clawed otters, Penny & Kenai, took their trip to the vet this month to get their yearly check-up. So, we’re taking you behind the scenes to find out more about what happens once they get there!
Firstly, our team has to secure the otters in transportation crates for them to get to the vets. This is done via a tunnel system in their inside area of their habitat. The otters will go through the tunnel and into the crate, which is then lifted up by our team.
Once the otters arrive, they’ll be given general anaesthesia to place them into an unconscious state. This is for two reasons, one being that it is less stressful for the otters themselves. The other reason is, as they are wild animals, it keeps all of the vets and staff safe from any injury whilst they complete the checks and makes the process much easier.
The otters will get a full check including feeling their abdomen and lymph nodes, examining the skin and fur, monitoring their heart rate, assessing their joint flexibility, checking their teeth and performing scaling and polishing if necessary.
The vet will also do an x-ray for each of them to monitor issues like kidney stones or heart abnormalities. Blood samples will be taken for sampling to check organ function.
Whilst there, they will also update any vaccinations and treatments that the otters need!
Once all done, the otters will return back to Martin Mere and back into their habitat.
Some fun facts about our Asian small-clawed otters!
How old are Penny & Kenai?
Penny will be turning 14 in July 2026. Kenai will be turning 9 in August 2026.
Why are they called Asian small-clawed otters?
It’s what it says on the tin! They are found in Asia stretching from eastern India and Nepal to southern China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They are also named after their tiny claws. This is so that their sensitive fingers can help them feel for prey in muddy riverbeds and sand, without their claws getting in the way.
What do Asian small-clawed otters eat?
We feed our otters around 12 different varieties of food. They are carnivorous, so their diet consists of foods such as beef, crab, all different types of shellfish, carp and tilapia. One of their absolute favourites is razor clam!
How many otter species are there?
There are 13 different types of otter species in the world. Our otters, which are Asian small-clawed otters, are the smallest species of otter.
When can I see your Asian small-clawed otters?
Penny & Kenai can be found in their habitat at WWT Martin Mere. The best times to see them are during our daily talk and feed which take place at 11:30am and 2:30pm.
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