Chun Lee2

Swimmingly
Otters are champion swimmers. Actually, they are the only amphibious members of the weasel family. Asian small-clawed otters frequent shallow creeks, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters in places like Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. This is where they hunt for some of their favorite foods: crabs, mollusks, frogs, and fish.

Their long, sleek bodies are perfectly outfitted for diving and underwater navigation. They tuck their legs up and use their webbed paws and tapered tail to propel. Their tightly-packed underfur is also water repellant, and otters close their nostrils and ears when swimming.

Still that nesting feeling
After giving birth to several litters, Jordan may be preparing to deliver another set of cubs at the end of 2005.

Three cheers for Chun Lee!
(Make that times two?)

Asian small-clawed otters can have up to six cubs per litter. The male and female share nesting duties, and often get help from otter family members (that sure is a team for Chun Lee!). While staying in the nest with newborn cubs, the female often gets special treatment from male who will do his job as father by bringing food to her. After a short period, she will have several duties, including a role as supervisor of swimming lessons for all her new babies.

Overall population
There are a total of 118 otters at 29 zoos in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for Asian small-clawed otters. Again, our legendary senior is the oldest of this bunch.

Long live Chun Lee!

Brookfield Zoo is currently home to a total of 13 Asian small-clawed otters, and 4 North American river otters (which are on exhibit in The Swamp).

Unfortunately, due to many factors (including: pollution, habitat loss, and hunting) the numbers of wild otters has declined and the species has been listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and is designated as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Breeding groups in the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a multizoo breeding program for endangered species, are attempting to curb this problem.

To see Chun Lee and his family for yourself, it is best to visit Tropic World: Asia before 12 p.m. Once the cubs are born, though, the family may have an unpredictable schedule for a little while. Keep your eyes peeled as Chun Lee makes appearances on exhibit with his cub crew in tow.

Furry Films
Check out great video clips of Chun Lee and the other otters. These are large Windows Media files that require a broadband connection to view:

Chun Lee can sometimes be seen swimming on his own.
The otters and gibbons often interact---but this clip catches them at their most active!

If you do not have Windows Media you can download it here by clicking on the tile below:

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