Otters at Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks marked St David’s Day on Saturday with their own unique celebrations.
Keepers provided their family of Asian short clawed otters with bunches of leeks over the weekend.
However, a female otter called Lola was given a sneak leek preview when she was given one to try beforehand.
“Our otters are extremely inquisitive and are always very keen to investigate anything new we put in to their outdoor enclosure,” said Blue Planet’s James Buchanan.
“Their diet is made up of a mix of meat and vegetables so we were hoping the leeks would go down well and, judging by Lola’s reaction at least, it looks like we could be on to a winner.
“In the past we’ve found that, even if they don’t particularly like the taste of a new food item, it still gives them a new toy to play with so either way it will provide them with lots of entertainment,” he added.
Visitors were able to see how the other otters react during twice-daily feeds which take place at midday and 2pm.
As their name suggests Asian short claw otters are found throughout southern Asia including India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Unlike most otters, their front feet are only partly webbed and have short claws used for digging under rocks and in the mud.
These special adaptations make them particularly dexterous and you will often see them ‘juggling’ or playing with rocks and pebbles.
They are highly social and intelligent mammals with a wide vocabulary. Scientists have identified up to 12 different calls.
Otters mate for life, with the female being the dominant partner. The life expectancy of Asian short claw otters in the wild is unknown, however in captivity they can live to at least 12, with some animals living beyond their 20th birthdays.
The leek is the personal symbol of St David, the patron saint of Wales, whose feast day always falls on March 1.
There are also stories of Welsh soldiers being able to distinguish each other from a troop of English dressed in similar fashion by wearing leeks.
