Snow day play for energetic otters Kotaro and Hana

Endlessly curious and chock-full of energy, otters Kotaro and Hana seem excited for the unexpected snow falling onto their toy-packed balcony.

They touch the flakes with their noses and paws as they jump in and out of wooden buckets of warm water. They wrestle with the running water hose, attempting to bring it out of the cold and into the apartment. When handed small snowballs, they grab them with their paws for enthusiastic examination.

The intelligent, playful pair are Asian small-clawed otters, the smallest of 13 otter species, and one of four that are native to shallow wetlands in Southeast Asia.

As noted in their name, they have small claws, sensitive foot pads, and reduced webbing between their toes, making them quick and dexterous hunters of “crabs, snails, fish, frogs, insects, bird eggs, rodents, snakes, worms and small aquatic animals.” Their caregivers’ note of warning:

“It is so much work to have an otter as a pet. “You need to be ready for more than its cuteness.”

Popularized online, their charismatic adorableness has made them a sought-after species for illegal trade. They are vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. From the video caption:

“A few years ago, trafficking otters became a serious problem, and in 2019, CITES (Washington Convention) increased the classification of otters from CITESⅡ to CITES I, which banned international trade.

“Having an otter as a pet is illegal in most countries. However, in Japan, otters can be traded, although it is limited to domestic breeds only.”

“Currently, severe restrictions are in place for buying and selling otters in Japan. For example, microchips need to be inserted in both babies and parents, and owners need a special permit. Circumstances of birth must also be reported in detail.

“As a result, there is currently no buying and selling of baby otters in the market. There is a severe penalty for selling and buying otters with unknown birth origins without permits. This was effective in eliminating trafficking, and we don’t see otter trafficking on the news anymore.

“Kotaro and Hana were both born in Japan and have permits…”

Kotaro and Hana’s caregivers continue to keep it real in the video’s caption:

“They are loud, and they sometimes bite you. Food and water get very expensive, and you cannot keep otters in cages because they are active.

“Also, we never leave them at home. We always look after them closely like we do with human children, and our top priority is always them.

“If you want to have an otter as a pet, you must be able to follow the law and devote your life to it. If you don’t have that resolve, you should never have one as a pet”

Find Kotaro and Hana on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

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