To commemorate World Otter Day 2025, which this year was held on 28, 2025, Berang-Berang Indonesia and SINTAS Indonesia organized a special event at Sekolah Alam Islam Terpadu Al-Kautsar in Limau Manis, Padang, West Sumatra. Carrying the theme “World Otter Day: Get to Know and Protect Indonesia’s Otters”, the event was attended by 28 enthusiastic teachers and students of Al-Kautsar. The day kicked off with an engaging educational session led by Ferdi Andeska, representing the Berang-Berang Indonesia team. In this session, participants were introduced to four species of otters found in Indonesia, learning about their unique characteristics, natural habitats, and crucial role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Delivered interactively, the session sparked lively participation and curiosity from the students.
To test their understanding, the activity continued with a fun and exciting quiz, where students answered questions based on the material they had just learned. The atmosphere was filled with energy and laughter as learning turned into play! Things got even more exciting during the “Otter Guessing Game”, led by the enthusiastic team from SINTAS Indonesia. Teachers and students were divided into four groups, each representing one of the four otter species found in Indonesia Each round tested how quickly and accurately the students could choose the correct image in response to questions.
Laughter and cheers filled the room as students raced to answer, showing tremendous enthusiasm and spirit. Not only was it fun, but the game also served as a creative way to reinforce what they had learned. In the end, Team Aonyx cinereus emerged victorious, earning a special souvenir featuring otters and a copy of the “Berang-Berang Indonesia” book as their prize.
As a token of appreciation, Berang-Berang Indonesia and SINTAS Indonesia presented the school’s management and principal with a special gift package, including the book “Berang-Berang Indonesia”, the children’s storybook “Harimau Sumatra”, and several wildlife posters to support the school’s environmental education efforts. The goal of this event is to enrich the students’ understanding of protected wildlife especially otters and inspire them to become future conservation advocates. Indonesia is home to four otter species:
- Lutra sumatrana (hairy-nosed otter),
- Lutra lutra (Eurasian otter),
- Aonyx cinereus (small-clawed otter),
- and Lutrogale perspicillata (smooth-coated otter).
Sadly, otters remain underappreciated and often misunderstood in Indonesia. Many people only know them through viral content portraying them as cute pets, overlooking their ecological importance as wild animals. This misunderstanding fuels the illegal hunting and trade of otters.
That is why World Otter Day 2025 is such an important moment to raise awareness and amplify conservation efforts for otters in Indonesia. Through educational events like this, we hope to inspire more people to care about, and take action for, the protection of otters and their habitats.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the International Otter Survival Fund and the Mohamed bin Zayed Fund. With their generous support, this event was made possible.