Lotte World Aquarium offers up-close look at capybara, otter behavior

Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, introduced behavioral enrichment activities on Oct. 2 and Friday for World Animal Day. Capybaras explored hay scarecrow toys filled with autumn treats, while Asian small-clawed otters interacted with pine cones, chestnuts and textured materials. Aquarists explained how the activities support the animals’ mental and physical well-being and promote wildlife education.

World Animal Day is observed annually on Oct. 4 to advocate for animal welfare and strengthen connections between people and nature.

The capybara toys were designed to encourage foraging, inspection and food interaction that mimic behaviors in the wild.

The otters’ enrichment setups used unfamiliar shapes and textures to stimulate their senses and dexterity.

Lotte World Aquarium is located inside Lotte World Mall and plans to expand educational programs and direct encounters focused on respect for life and ecosystem conservation.

Published Oct 19, 2026 12:38 pm KST

Updated Oct 19, 2026 12:49 pm KST

Visitors watch a capybara eat during an animal enrichment program at Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul. Courtesy of Lotte World Aquarium

Lotte World Aquarium in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, has launched a series of tailored behavioral enrichment programs for its capybaras and Asian small-clawed otters, giving visitors an up-close view of the animals' natural instincts and playful routines.

Timed to celebrate World Animal Day — an annual global event observed on Oct. 4 to advocate for animal welfare and foster deeper bonds between humans and nature — the special activities took place on Oct. 2 and Friday inside the aquarium's main animal habitats.

Designed around the unique biological traits and natural habits of each species, the initiative introduced fresh environmental stimuli to encourage problem-solving and curiosity. For the capybaras, aquarists constructed scarecrow-shaped toys woven from hay and packed with seasonal autumn treats. The novel objects prompted the world's largest rodents to forage, inspect and interact with their food in ways that mimic wild behaviors.

Meanwhile, the nimble Asian small-clawed otters received tactile enrichment setups featuring autumn pine cones, chestnuts and various textured materials. The unfamiliar shapes stimulated the otters' keen senses and dexterity, keeping them actively engaged as they maneuvered through their enclosure.

Throughout the interactive sessions, aquarium staff were on hand to guide spectators through the experience. Aquarists delivered live commentary explaining how targeted enrichment enhances mental and physical well-being, translating complex animal husbandry concepts into accessible educational moments for visitors of all ages.

Located inside Lotte World Mall, the aquarium emphasized that these celebrations are part of a broader commitment to wildlife education. Officials noted plans to continuously expand educational programs and direct encounters that foster respect for life and highlight ecosystem conservation. By offering transparent glimpses into animal care, the venue aims to inspire the public to reflect on the vital importance of protecting species and preserving their natural habitats worldwide.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

位于首尔东南部松坡区的乐天世界水族馆于10月2日和周五（世界动物日）推出了一系列动物行为丰富化活动。水豚们探索着装满秋季美食的干草人玩具，而亚洲小爪水獭则与松果、栗子和各种纹理材料互动。水族馆工作人员讲解了这些活动如何促进动物的身心健康，并有助于开展野生动物教育。

每年10月4日是世界动物日，旨在倡导动物福利，加强人与自然之间的联系。

这些水豚玩具的设计旨在鼓励它们觅食、检查食物和与食物互动，从而模仿它们在野外的行为。

水獭的活动环境布置采用了不熟悉的形状和纹理，以刺激它们的感官和灵巧性。

乐天世界水族馆位于乐天世界购物中心内，计划扩大以尊重生命和生态系统保护为重点的教育项目和直接互动体验。

发布于2026年10月19日下午12:38（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月19日下午12:49（韩国标准时间）

在首尔东南部松坡区的乐天世界水族馆，游客们正在观看水豚进食，这是动物互动项目中的一项活动。图片由乐天世界水族馆提供。

位于首尔东南部松坡区的乐天世界水族馆为其水豚和亚洲小爪水獭推出了一系列量身定制的行为丰富化项目，让游客近距离观察动物的自然本能和玩耍的日常活动。

为庆祝世界动物日（每年 10 月 4 日举行的全球性活动，旨在倡导动物福利并促进人类与自然之间更深层次的联系），特别活动于 10 月 2 日和星期五在水族馆的主要动物栖息地举行。

该项目围绕每种动物独特的生物特征和自然习性而设计，引入了全新的环境刺激，以激发它们的解决问题能力和好奇心。例如，水族馆工作人员为水豚制作了稻草人形状的玩具，用干草编织而成，里面装满了秋季时令食物。这些新奇的玩具促使这些世界上最大的啮齿动物以模仿野生行为的方式觅食、检查和享用食物。

与此同时，身手敏捷的亚洲小爪水獭也获得了触觉丰富的活动空间，其中包括秋季松果、栗子和各种不同质地的材料。这些陌生的形状刺激了水獭敏锐的感官和灵巧的技巧，使它们在围栏内活动时保持积极性。

在整个互动环节中，水族馆工作人员随时引导游客体验。水族馆管理员进行现场讲解，阐释有针对性的丰容措施如何提升动物的身心健康，将复杂的动物饲养概念转化为适合所有年龄段游客的通俗易懂的教育内容。

位于乐天世界购物中心内的水族馆强调，这些庆祝活动是其致力于野生动物教育的更广泛承诺的一部分。馆方表示，计划持续拓展教育项目和互动体验，以培养公众对生命的尊重，并强调生态系统保护的重要性。通过公开透明地展示动物护理过程，水族馆旨在启发公众思考保护物种及其自然栖息地在全球范围内的重要性。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。