Otters add a lively splash to Terra Natura Murcia
See this agile aquatic mammal up close in the park’s Iberian Peninsula habitat
Terra Natura Murcia is giving visitors the chance to get better acquainted with one of its most intriguing animals, the otter. Agile, playful and perfectly adapted to life in water, it is a species that draws attention for all the right reasons, and one that fits beautifully into the park’s focus on wildlife and conservation.Found in the park’s Iberian Peninsula habitat, the otter is a fine example of how animals adapt to their surroundings. With a long, flexible body, short legs and a strong tail, it moves through water with ease. Its dense brown fur is waterproof and helps keep its body warm, even in cold conditions. Medium-sized and full of energy, it is built for a life in rivers and wetlands.
The otter’s diet is varied too. Fish make up most of what it eats, but it also feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, amphibians and sometimes small birds or mammals. That flexibility helps it survive in different aquatic environments and makes it a very effective hunter. It is this ability to adapt that makes the otter such a fascinating species to watch.
A key part of healthy waters
Otters are usually found in rivers, lakes, marshes and coastal areas with plenty of vegetation and food. Their presence is often seen as a sign of good water quality, which makes them important not only as animals in their own right, but also as indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
At Terra Natura Murcia, the otter helps visitors understand the balance of aquatic life in a simple and engaging way. Seeing it in the Iberian Peninsula habitat gives people the chance to observe how it moves, feeds and lives, while also learning why its natural environment matters so much.
Young otters stay close to their mother for the first few months of life. During that time, they learn how to swim, hunt and move through the water, skills that are essential for survival. It is a reminder that even a seemingly effortless swimmer has to learn every step of the way.
For families, animal lovers and anyone curious about wildlife, the otter is one of those animals that is easy to admire and easy to remember. At Terra Natura Murcia, it adds a lively touch to the park and a valuable lesson about the world’s waterways at the same time.
Click here for more information about Terra Natura Murcia
Image: Terra Natura Murcia
Address
C/Regidor Cayetano Gago S/N 30100 Espinardo Murcia ESPANA Tel: (+34)968 368 200
Terra Natura Murcia, wildlife and adventure water park in the outskirts of the city of Murcia
Terra Natura Murcia is one of the most important and spectacular animal and nature parks in western Spain, and is one of a new generation of wildlife parks in which visitors can discover the concept of what's called "Zooinmersión."
The aim of this is recreate a habitat which gives an experience of being at one with the wildlife viewed in the park, so to this end more than 500 examples of 50 species of vegetation have been interplanted among the animal habitats, spread across an area occupying more than 165,000 square metres.
The planting has matured to create a comfortable and interesting environment which enhances the interaction between visitors and animals.
The planting not only softens the landscape, but also enables visitors to be closer to the animals and have direct human contact rather than the traditional forms of wildlife park where the animals are at a distance behind physical barriers.
The park contains over 500 animals belonging to 50 different species (some of which are in grave danger of extinction), alongside giraffes, lions, hippopotamus, lemurs, brown bears, Iberian lynx, Oryx, Iberian wolves and a White African Rhinoceros.
Throughout the year, Terra Natura Murcia offers different educational talks during visits to their facilities: giraffes, brown bears and otters.
One of the most popular areas is the falconry zone, where the displays enable visitors to discover the beauty of a great variety of birds such as the majestic flight of the peregrine falcon, which reaches diving speeds of over 300 km an hour, the eagle owl, various types of hawk, the griffon vulture and the buzzard eagle. One of the main aims of the park is to encourage contact and engage in interaction between animals and humans, and the falconry is a popular means of achieving this goal.
Among the mammals are Iberian and European Lynx, Mouflon and Coatis.
Aqua Natura Water park
During the summer Terra Natura opens Aqua Natura, the only water park in the Region of Murcia.
This is a refreshing and enjoyable way to cool down in the heat of summer, with swimming pools for adults and children, slides and shoots, kamikazes, lazy river, entertainment and games for youngsters, all within just a short distance of the centre of the city of Murcia.
Opening hours 2024
Terra Natura Murcia is open every day of the year except 1st January and 25th December.
The wildlife park opens at 10.00 in the morning, and during the summer (June 23rd to September 8th) it opens at 11.00.
The water park opens from May 25th to September 8th, at 11.00
Closing times are as follows:
January 2nd – March 15th: 17.00, except weekends in February and March (18.00).
March 16th – May 24th: 18.00, except weekends in April and May (19.00).
May 25th – June 16th: 19.00.
June 17th – September 8th: 20.00.
NB: During the summer special nocturnal tours and meals are available. See what's on section for latest promotions.
September 9th – September 15th: 19.00.
September 16th – October 25th: 18.00, except weekends in September and October (19.00).
October 28th – December 31st: 17.00, except weekends in November (18.00).
Details of daily activities can be found here: extra activities and special offers are regularly updated on Murcia Today.
Click here for online bookings
How to get there
Terra Natura is located in the northern outskirts of the city of Murcia in Espinardo, accessed via the A-7 motorway.
Address: Calle Regidor Cayetano Gago, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia
From the A-7 Murcia to Alicante, exit 136, Universidad de Murcia
From the Autovia A-7 Alicante to Murcia, exit 762b, Murcia centro
By Bus
From central Murcia. Bus line number 31 leaves from Plaza Cruz Roja via Gran Via and passes by the park, from Monday to Saturday every half hour and on Sunday every hour.
Line 39A, leaves from the railway station from Monday to Friday every 15 minutes
Line 39C leaves from Infante Juan Manuel (Pio Baroja) from Monday to Friday every 30 minutes.
