Giant otters – Ecotourism in Peru

When travel to Peru, spot Giant otters is a wonderful experience, they are beautiful animals, they are the largest otters in the world and they live only in South America, mostly concentrated in the Amazon basin. They have been listed as endangered by the IUCN since 2000.

Fish make up most of the giant river otter’s diet. They hunt alone or in groups, sometimes using coordinated efforts, and must be successful often to meet their daily intake quota. Each animal may eat six to nine pounds (three to four kilograms) of food per day. Fish are supplemented by crustaceans, snakes, and other river creatures.

Giant river otters live in family groups which include monogamous parents and the offspring from several breeding seasons. They den by burrowing into banks or under fallen logs, and establish a home territory that they will aggressively defend.

Giant otters are often seen in oxbow lakes at Manu Park, creating a wonderful experience for nature lovers.