Our Otters Have Arrived at St Andrews Aquarium!
- St Andrews Aquarium
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
A very special arrival at Otter Kingdom
There has been plenty of excitement at St Andrews Aquarium recently, as our much-loved new arrivals have officially moved into their brand-new home.
Our Asian short-clawed otters have arrived safely at the aquarium and are now settling into Otter Kingdom, our spectacular new purpose-built habitat designed especially for these playful, curious and energetic animals.
After months of planning, building and preparation, it was a very proud moment for the team to welcome the otters through the doors and introduce them to their new surroundings.
And, as you can imagine, they wasted very little time getting curious.
A careful journey to their new home
The arrival of any animal at the aquarium is planned with great care, and our otters’ move was no different.
Our animal care team were on hand throughout the journey, carefully transporting the otters in secure travel crates and making sure they were kept safe, calm and comfortable every step of the way.
Once they arrived, the team gently moved them into their new indoor area, giving them time to adjust, sniff, explore and take everything in at their own pace.
For the keepers, it was a brilliant moment, the kind of day that comes after a lot of hard work, a lot of preparation and, let’s be honest, probably a fair bit of nervous excitement too.
Exploring Otter Kingdom for the first time
Otter Kingdom has been specially designed to give our otters an exciting and enriching home, with plenty of space to explore, climb, swim and play.
Their new habitat includes:
Flowing streams for splashing, swimming and investigating
Rocky areas and climbing spaces to encourage natural movement
Water features and pools for play and exercise
Quiet areas where the otters can rest and relax
A purpose-built indoor Bothy where they can escape the Scottish weather whenever they choose
As soon as the otters began exploring, their personalities started to shine through. From cautious first steps to curious sniffs, quick dashes and playful climbing, it was a wonderful chance to watch them discover their new world.
Settling into their brand-new enclosure
While Otter Kingdom has been built to be exciting for visitors, it has been designed first and foremost around the needs of the otters.
Asian short-clawed otters are intelligent, active animals, so their habitat needs to keep them busy both physically and mentally. That means giving them a space where they can search, forage, climb, swim, play and interact with their surroundings in different ways throughout the day.
Our keepers will also be providing regular enrichment, feeding and training sessions to help keep the otters healthy, stimulated and full of energy.
In short: this is not just a new enclosure. It is a carefully designed home.
A new experience for visitors
Otter Kingdom will give visitors the chance to get closer than ever to these incredible animals.
With large viewing windows, guests will be able to watch the otters race through the water, explore the rocks, dive beneath the flowing streams and show off their cheeky personalities.
It is set to become one of the most exciting areas of St Andrews Aquarium, and a brilliant new experience for families, animal lovers and anyone who has ever fallen slightly in love with an otter. Which, frankly, is most people.
The start of an exciting new chapter
Welcoming our otters to St Andrews Aquarium is a huge milestone for the whole team.
From the first arrival crates coming through the doors to seeing the otters begin to explore their new habitat, it has been a very special moment behind the scenes.
We are delighted to have them here, and we cannot wait for visitors to experience Otter Kingdom for themselves.
Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more updates, photos and news as our otters continue to settle in.
Otter Kingdom is coming to life — and we think you are going to love it.
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