PREVIEW

Bes-Ottered! Rare Giant Otter Finds Love At Chester Zoo. A rare male giant otter has travelled thousands of miles to find love at Chester Zoo - as keepers hope he will breed with their existing female. The three-year-old male giant otter, named Manú, has travelled more than a thousand miles from Budapest Zoo after being chosen as the perfect genetic match for Chester’s female, Tibiri (8). The duo have been paired up as part of co-ordinated efforts between international zoos that are working to secure a future for the species. Zookeepers have now released heartwarming images and video footage of the loved up otters meeting for the very time, where they are seen swimming and playing together. Experts estimate that no more than 5,000 giant otters remain across South America and the species has already been wiped out in Uruguay and Argentina. The decline in numbers is a result of mass-scale deforestation, water pollution and illegal hunting. It’s early days, but the outlook for love between the two looks good!. In part that may be down to Manú’s striking looks - as unusually he does not have any markings and his throat is chestnut brown, which makes him easily identifiable.