Otters
The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is one of Rooiels’ most captivating and elusive residents. Living along our river, lagoon, rocky shoreline and beaches, these semi-aquatic mammals move quietly between freshwater and sea, usually under cover of dusk or darkness.
The signs of their presence are often there for those who look: distinctive five-toed tracks pressed into damp sand, scat (often filled with crab shell fragments) on a favourite rock, or high-pitched whistles and soft chatters drifting through the night air.
For otters, this is an ideal home. Clean freshwater flowing to the sea, rocky pools rich in crabs, sheltered banks for dens, and relatively low levels of disturbance compared to more urbanised coastlines.
The African Clawless Otter is currently listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List and is a protected species in South Africa. Populations are declining in many areas due to pollution, habitat destruction and disturbance, entanglement in fishing gear and reduced food sources.
For Rooiels, this means that maintaining the health of our river and coastal ecosystems – and practicing respectful coexistence – is directly linked to the future of these animals.
🙋 How you can help
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Always keep your dogs on a leash.
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Never approach, feed, or attempt to interact with an otter.
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Avoid disturbing riverbank vegetation.
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Dispose of litter responsibly and prevent chemicals, oils or detergents from entering our waterways.
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Never reveal den locations publicly.
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Did You Know?
◻️ African Clawless Otters must return to freshwater after swimming in the sea to groom and remove salt from their fur.
◻️ Their scat frequently contains visible crab shell fragments – a tell-tale sign they’ve been feeding nearby.
◻️ They can close their ears and nostrils underwater.
◻️ Despite their playful reputation, they are powerful predators with strong jaws adapted for crushing shells.
◻️ You’re more likely to find their footprints than to see them.
About Otters
They are the largest otter species in Africa, typically measuring up to 1.1–1.6 metres from nose to tail and weighing up to 15 kg or more. Despite their size, they move with remarkable agility – equally at ease slipping through water, scrambling over rocks, or padding along a riverbank.
The name “clawless” refers to the fact that their front paws have very reduced claws and highly sensitive, flexible fingers. Unlike many other otter species that rely more on their mouths, African Clawless Otters use their dextrous forepaws almost like hands, feeling under stones and into crevices to extract prey. Their diet in Rooiels likely includes crabs, fish, frogs, insects and small marine creatures in tidal pools. They also have long, sensitive whiskers that help them detect movement in murky water.
Life In The Wild
Otters are mostly nocturnal and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). A typical evening might begin with an otter emerging from a concealed den (called a holt) in thick riverbank vegetation or between rocks. After stretching and grooming, it may patrol a stretch of river or coastline it knows intimately. They are territorial, marking their routes with scent at prominent spots such as rocks or logs.
African Clawless Otters are surprisingly vocal animals, communicating with a range of whistles, chirps, chatters and low growls. These calls are used to maintain contact between mothers and pups, signal alarm, or advertise territory. Young otters learn by following their mother, and watching, copying, and practising hunting skills. Play is an important part of this learning. What looks like carefree tumbling or sliding is often skill-building for adult survival.
Though shy of humans, they are intelligent and curious animals. In very quiet areas, they may briefly pause to observe before slipping silently away. To see one in Rooiels, even fleetingly, is a special privilege.