Species Spotlight
A Mammal like no “ Otter ”
Muscular webbed feet , long , flexible bodies , and strong , rudder-like tails make the Endangered Giant Otter a powerful swimmer . In fact , these agile “ Olympians ” can reach a top swimming speed of 8.7 miles per hour — almost twice the speed of the fastest human swimmer in history , Michael Phelps .
Endemic to South America , small , fragmented populations of the Giant Otter are found in the rivers and creeks of three of South America ’ s major river systems — the Amazon , Orinoco and La Plata . Giant Otters burrow into riverbanks and under fallen logs to build their dens and establish their home territory .
Dependent on clean rivers and wetlands , Giant Otters hunt in the mornings and evenings — consuming up to nine pounds of fish , frogs and other aquatic creatures daily , including even small caimans , a reptile related to alligators . A top predator in these waterways , these carnivorous mammals control the populations of prey species and help keep the river ecosystem in balance .
But despite their aquatic super powers , they are unable to stave off habitat degradation and destruction .
As logging and mining activities , conversion to agriculture and fire destroy and degrade their riparian habitat , their population has declined by more than 50 % over the past 25 years . Contamination from artisanal gold mining as well as pesticides and fertilizers degrades water quality for all things aquatic , as well as invertebrates , birds and mammals .
Rainforest Trust projects cover a total of nearly 19.7 million acres that overlap the range of the Giant Otter throughout the Amazon basin .
The world ’ s largest otter — and the longest member of the weasel family — the Giant Otter measures up to six feet in length and can weigh up to 75 pounds . Mid-day , they take a siesta . Sociable animals , Giant Otters live in groups of up to twenty individuals , and eat , sleep and play together as an extended family . top giant otter | vladimir wrangel
16