Stop otter cubs from being USED as a tourist attraction

Bars that feature wild animals are popping up at a dramatically fast rate in Japan. Hedgehogs, chinchillas and, more worryingly, otters are the main attractions there, and they are treated like pets.

Unlike real domesticated animals, however, these are wild individuals and in most countries a licence is needed to own them. Otters are social predators that are unpredictable and usually aggressive when they reach sexual maturity, need a specialised diet and a stimulating environment.

Kept in small enclosures, sometimes alone, without access to food or water, exposed to loud noises and constant interaction with humans, the baby otters will not stay healthy for long. This kind of establishment is a gateway to hell for these animals. Similarly to lion farms in africa in which only cubs are kept, they will probably be housed only while they are young and will be gotten rid of once they start becoming difficult to manage or aggressive.

We strongly oppose places that use wild animals at a profit, fuelling wildlife trade and illegal trafficking, poaching from the wild, the image of wild animals as pets and using cubs for financial benefit.

Japan should block the birth of these "petting" bars immediately and pull its weight in the fight against wildlife trade!