Surat zoo first in Gujarat to breed otters

Sarthana zoological park of Surat is not as large as the other zoos in the state but it has become the first to breed otters in captivity.

From two otters in 2006, the zoo now has seven of these semi-aquatic animals. The authorities of the Sarthana park are now planning to bring other animals from different zoos in exchange for some of their otters.

The zoological park began breeding the furry mammals in 2006 when workers of an NGO handed over to the zoo an otter bitch they had rescued from an irrigation canal. (A female otter is called a bitch; likewise, a male otter is called a dog.) The zoo authorities soon acquired an otter dog to make it possible to breed the animal in captivity.

Though it has been successful in breeding these animals, the zoo's efforts have not been without their moments of tragedy. Nearly half the otter pups that were born here died as the mortality rate of newborn otters is as high as 50%.

"A healthy otter bitch usually gives birth to one pup," said Prafful Mehta, superintendent in-charge of Sarthana zoo. "Sometimes twins are born but, in such cases, only one survives." Otters breed round the year, Mehta added.

Officials of the zoo say the Sarthana zoological park is the only one in the state where otters are being bred. It has promised the Sakkar Bagh zoo in Junagadh that it would send it a pair of otters very soon.

"We have asked them for a pair of Asiatic Lions in exchange for four species of animals from Sarthana," Mehta said. "In addition, we have also promised that we would send them a pair of otters as soon as we have them in larger numbers. We hope Sakkar Bagh zoo considers our proposal and gives us a lion pair."