Traps to be laid on Rangitoto as trail gets otter

Traps with live bait will be laid on Rangitoto Island today to try to catch fugitive otter Jin - now on day 12 of her great escape from Auckland Zoo.

Zoo staff called off the ground search after the trail went cold but yesterday resumed the hunt after a sighting by a kayaker around Rangitoto, 5km northeast of the North Shore suburb of Stanley Pt where she was last seen.

This time round, Department of Conservation staff will aid in recapturing Jin after attempts by residents and a helicopter chartered by a television crew. Police and the Navy have been asked to watch for her as well.

Auckland Zoo curator Maria Finnigan said Jin was clearly fit and feeding.

"Otherwise she wouldn't have the energy to get as far as she's gone."

Ms Finnigan thought Jin, who was born in Auckland Zoo, might be searching for other otters.

"I think she's still a bit of a directionless wee soul. If you're an otter and you've lived all your life in otter company, your natural instinct would be to seek further otter company. To seek the smells and familiar noises that they make.

"Perhaps that's why she's continuing on and on."

But Jin still has some distance to travel if she's to meet other otters. Asiatic short-clawed otters like Jin make their natural homes in the warmer climes of Southern and Southeast Asia.

Ms Finnigan said Jin's travels would take a more serious turn if she arrived at protected DoC areas such as Tiritiri Matangi, where the environments were more fragile.

DoC staff were out on Rangitoto yesterday afternoon to map out the area where she was sighted, and will return today to lay traps.

Zoo spokeswoman Jane Healy said the kayaker had spotted Jin just out of the water yesterday morning, and was close enough to tell that she was wet. Jin then disappeared into scrub and rocks.

* Otter spotters can call the zoo on 360-3800 during business hours, or 027 291-9773 after hours.