Otter climbs tree as an act of 'teenage rebellion'

A young otter who amazed visitors to a wildlife centre by climbing up a 15ft tree may have been carrying out an act of 'teenage rebellion', according to experts.

Staff at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire said it was 'very unusual' to see the creatures scrambling up branches. But one theory is that the otter, named Mo, may have been 'flexing her teenage muscles' and trying to prove herself.



Slimbridge spokeswoman Sally Munro said: 'It's the otter equivalent of stomping upstairs to your room and slamming the door.'

The centre's mammal manager, John Crooks, said: 'This is certainly very unusual behaviour for an otter, but I think maybe she is going through some kind of teenage rebellion. Otters are strong mammals and she is climbing progressively higher each time so she seems to be very determined and headstrong.