Page 70 - BBC Knowledge - October 2017 IN

WILDLIFE
Otters

Like their Eurasian
cousins, giant otters are
boisterous animals,
using play to reinforce
social bonds

FACT FILE
fatal outcomes for one or more of the combatants. “The otters often
start a fight as soon as they spot a caiman,” Rob explains. “I suspect GIANT OTTER
that they may be trying to keep caiman numbers down. They seem to
want to ensure that there are no caiman near their den and cubs.” Pteronura brasiliensis
Ordinarily, if a caiman feels sufficiently harassed, it will swim
off in search of a little peace and quiet. The really dangerous ▼ WEIGHT
ones are those that simply won’t be intimidated and stubbornly Male: 26 to 32kg
refuse to budge. Female: 22 to 26kg ▼ LIFE-CYCLE
▼ LENGTH
Female bears 1 to 6 cubs,
BITE FOR SURVIVAL Head and body: 1 to 1.3m (male); usually during the dry season,
One morning, Diablo eyes a huge caiman lingering close to the den 1 to 1.2m (female); tail: 45 to after a gestation of 65 to 70 days.
– too close for comfort. All of the adults gather, their usual whistles 65cm Cubs can hunt by 10 months;
intensifying into almost tribal cries and shrieks. Sophia swims up ▼ ID TIPS sexually mature at 2 to 3 years
to the caiman’s head to distract it while Diablo sneaks up behind Sleek, muscular body with huge ▼ HABITAT
to bite its tail. Though powerful, the reptile’s jaws are no match for webbed feet and a very long tail. Lakes, slow-moving rivers,
the agility and speed of the otters: as some of the gang hold it under Velvety brown overall; cream swamps and flooded forests
the surface and others bite, all it can do is thrash helplessly. After throat patch
almost an hour of noisy fighting, the mob finally overpowers its ▼ DIET ▼ STATUS
scaly enemy. Mainly fish, but also takes Endangered; threats include water
This brutal battle demonstrates the teamwork and sheer guts amphibians, molluscs, small pollution, habitat degradation
that the otter family needs to survive. But struggles like this come mammals, turtles and birds and hunting
at a price: two cubs have been killed, presumably having drowned WHERE IN THE WORLD
in the confusion. Now only two of the six in the litter are left – and GIANT OTTER
an adult is missing, too. RANGE
A year later, Charlie returns to Cocha Salvador to shoot the final
sequences of our film. What has become of Diablo and his family? Amazon Basin
Amazingly, they’re all still alive and well. And, there’s more good
news – Sophia has produced another litter, so there are four new PERU
cubs to look after. For his part, Dali is well on the way to becoming Manu NP
like his father: a big, strong, canny otter. It’s too early to say BRAZIL
if he will ever lord it over the lake like Diablo, but he’s proved
he is a survivor.
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OCTOBER 2017

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