12:00a.m. 20th June 2008

| By Alan Lander

Two of UnderWater World's otters are going to New Zealand on a breeding holiday. Photo: Cade Mooney/175537

Photo Gallery: Otters off to New Zealand

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Say bye-bye to Mo and Bud – and hello to the Pusan Puss.

These furry fellows are off to New Zealand to dabble in “otter futures”, or to do their bit to ensure the future of otters is secure.

According to Underwater World, which has been the pair’s home for some years, Australia’s otter population is a bit one-sided in the gender department.

“Mo is off to Christchurch and Bud to New Plymouth,” Underwater World spokeswoman Julie Cullen said.

“Generally, Australia’s otter population is limited in its capacity to breed.

“There is little diversity in the gene pool so we are expanding through New Zealand.”

Ms Cullen said the pair are a small-clawed south east Asian breed.

“We see sea otters a lot here but they are more tropical, and in Queensland they are all one sex,” she said.

Must be the water.

Meanwhile, while the boys are away, a female from Pusan in Korea will be flying in for, well, whatever it is you call an otter dating service.

“We (still) have two males here which are perfect for breeding,” Ms Cullen said.

Underwater World has seven otters ... well, now make that five ... okay, six.

“We have two sets of twins and one set of triplets."

Cuddly though these critters may look, she said the venue is unique in a special way.

“Otters are dangerous,” she said.

“They are one of the most dangerous creatures in zoos; very few zoos’ staff would even allow hand-feeding.

“But here they are like people – we have trained them with well-developed social skills and behaviours.”