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Small-clawed Otters Aonyx cinereus

Otter Alert illegal trade and booming demand in Japan

Small-clawed Otters Aonyx cinereus

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Published 19 October 2018

Asian otters at risk from illegal trade to meet booming demand in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, 19th October 2018—a boom in demand for otters as pets in Japan, particularly the Small-clawed Otter, has been linked to rising numbers of “otter cafés”, high-profile television programmes featuring otters and celebrities, and the popularity of otter pet “superstars” on social media platforms.

Otter Alert: A rapid assessment of illegal trade and booming demand in Japan

Report author(s):
Tomomi Kitade, Yui Naruse

Publication date:
October 2018

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