Address: 경북 경산시 한의대로 136 이웃집수달
Click Here for Link for Naver Maps
Click Here for Link for Kakao Maps
So it’s taken me a while to get this post up but did you know that Neighbour Otter Zoo had moved locations??? Their otter family keeps expanding, with Mocha all grown up she has a partner of her own (Toffee!) and this year they welcomed their offspring, four baby otters to the family (Oat, May, Butter, and Salty). This meant that they needed a much bigger facility to house the growing family plus accompanying menagerie. This updated post will cover the new location and information on how to meet Daegu’s cutest otter family!
The sad news is that the zoo has moved MUCH further out of Daegu central, but in better news it is still accessible by public transport. You can use the links above to check the address and find the best route for you, however, the easiest way is to get on line 2 (green line) and get off at Sawol Station (사월역). Come out of exit 2 and take the 990 bus for 30 mins, getting off at Shincheon Entrance (신천입구). Luckily the Otter Zoo is just a short walk from here! You can also take this same route back, just be prepared to wait a little for a bus. If you do have a car they also have parking outside the cafe.
When you enter the building you can pay at the window by the front door. The entrance fee is 15,000 for adults and 13,000 for minors. They do sometimes have deals and discounts so it is worth following their Instagram to keep up to date on news. To the right of the payment area is also a cafe area where you can get drinks. They also have a load of cute otter merch! We bought some coasters. They give you a free badge too with every visit so make sure to grab one before you go.
From the main corridor the room to the left houses the cats, as well as a nice seating area where you can enjoy your coffee. Staff are on hand to give you snacks to feed the kitties. There’s also plenty of toys so you can chill with a coffee and hang with the feline friends. Hunt around in all the hidey holes and you might even spot their resident skunk too! The ferrets are also housed here and if you ask the staff nicely they’ll let you give them a cuddle.
On the opposite side you can enter and see some of the other varied animals housed here, including a new member! Sheep! The sheep wears a little collar and is SO FREAKING CUTE. Staff will provide you with snacks for her too ❤ Mango the goat is still here (and hates me still haha) and can be found chilling in her pen. Feed her if you dare! The great big stompy tortoise is still powering around too, give him some lettuce just watch your fingers. Further in the room you can find the other regulars, the groundhogs, rabbits, lizards and more! You can take your time checking out all the cute animals and getting as many pics as you need. Further back you can find the otters, but before we get to the main attraction…
You can also go out of the back of the building! Out here is a large field set up with a football goal if you fancy a kick around. They also have play pits set up for children with toys and paddle pools. It’s a great spot to bring your children to play if you have young ones. You can also meet their lovely doggos out here too, the golden retriever is gorgeous and super friendly. They have another little pup too!
Okay, so otter time! When you are ready you can go to the back of the room where the sheep and goat are housed. You can see the two new rooms they have for the otter couples. Take a peek at them through the windows before you enter! Then go through the gate, but take off your shoes first. Rubber shoes are provided. You will also be asked to thoroughly wash your hands before entering the enclosure.
When we went Mocha and Toffee had recently given birth to 4 baby otter pups. In the first room staff were on hand to hold the babies up to the window and allow visitors to take pictures. However, we weren’t allowed to enter the room. Understandable as the babies were so young. You can check their progress on their Instagram account, as this was a few months ago the babies are MUCH bigger now and so they are probably welcoming visitors into their enclosure. Again, the Insta will have the most up to date info so check before you go.
In the next room were Mocha’s parents, Latte and Dolche. We were allowed to enter this room but there was a member of staff on hand monitoring guests. We could sit by where the otters were dozing in bed but were not allowed to touch or handle them. On previous visits, they gave us snacks to feed the otters and were allowed to play with them. I’m not sure if their policy changed, as we went on an exceptionally busy day so it may just have been because of how crowded it was. Either way, it’s fun to get up close and personal with the otters! Eventually Dolce woke up and went to hang in the pool, so we got some cute pics of him swimming too.
As we went on a weekend when the baby otters had just been born, I think it may have been busier than your average day. But even before they moved this place was very popular and drew big crowds. Going on a weekday might be a safer bet, but if you go a weekend do expect it to be busy. And one last note, to find more information about the otters you can follow them on YouTube! This channel is very informative, shows their daily lives, and even has videos showing why otters are not suitable pets and need appropriate enclosuers and handlers. Overall it’s a great little zoo, then animals seem to be treated well, and you get to hang out with otters! An absoulte must visit in Daegu! You can also check out my post about the previous location for more cute otter pics and vids of baby Mocha!
Dig In Daegu 