Conservation: A rare giant otter has arrived at Chester Zoo to try and help save the species

Manú out the water surrounded by bushesImage source, Chester Zoo
Image caption,

Manú flew over 1,000miles to get to his new home.

A rare male giant otter has arrived at Chester Zoo to help the conservation of his species.

Manú, a three-year-old giant otter, has travelled more than a thousand miles, all the way from Budapest Zoo.

He has been sent to live in England with Chester Zoo's own female giant otter Tibiri, in the hope of pups.

Giant otters are endangered animals and have been declared extinct in Uruguay and Argentina, so any pups from this pair will help preserve the species.

Image source, Chester Zoo
Image caption,

Zookeepers say Manú is already feeling settled in his new home.

Giant otters are the world's largest species of otter and generally live in South America.

However, experts believe that there are no more than 5,000 giant otters left in the wild.

Image source, Chester Zoo
Image caption,

Manú settles in with the other otters at Chester Zoo

International conservation groups are making efforts to protect the species.

Their decline in numbers is due to deforestation, water pollution and illegal hunting.