It's not every day you get to sip a latte and snap a selfie with an otter, an owl or a hedgehog — and an increasing number of cafes in Asia are cashing in on the novelty.

Key points: Animal welfare groups are concerned otters are being used as "props" in Japanese cafes

Animal welfare groups are concerned otters are being used as "props" in Japanese cafes Social media users are urged to consider the impact of encouraging demand for exotic pets

Social media users are urged to consider the impact of encouraging demand for exotic pets A cat or dog cafe could work with adoption services to help the animals find a new home

As people hunt for the most Instagrammable dining experience, cafes in countries like Japan and South Korea are offering new ways to interact with animals, including domestic pets and exotic wildlife.

One unconventional cafe in Tokyo's Harajuku district offers a unique experience, inviting customers to pat an Asian small-clawed otter, hug a hedgehog or play with a chinchilla — if they like, they can also buy a hedgehog or a chinchilla to take home.

According to Kyodo News, the Harry Harajuku Terrace Cafe opened in 2017, just weeks after Japan reported its first sighting of a wild otter in 38 years.

While business is booming for these cafes, Nicola Beynon, head of campaigns at Humane Society International (HSI) Australia, told the ABC there were many concerns about these types of venues, particularly in regards to wild animals.

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She said the trend of using otters as "props" in Japanese cafes was especially concerning — in fact, the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will be meeting in Sri Lanka next month to address which species should be protected from commercial trade.

India, Nepal and the Philippines have proposed a prohibition on international trade in Asian small-clawed otters, with pet trade identified as "a growing threat" to the species which has been particularly driven by demand in Japan, Thailand and Indonesia.

There is also a proposal from Bangladesh, India and Nepal to ban international trade in the Smooth-coated otter.

'A lifetime of cruelty for the animal behind the photo'

Experts urge social media users to consider the cruelty for the animal behind the photo. ( Instagram: Harry Hedgehog Cafe )

A report from wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic published last October said at least 39 mostly juvenile Asian small-clawed otters destined for Japan were seized in 2016 and 2017.

It also linked the boom in demand for otters as pets in Japan to a rising number of "otter cafes", adding that Japan has a long-standing global reputation as a major market for exotic pets.

The otters' natural habitats are in parts of China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. ( Reuters: Jim Bourg, File )

"The boom in the popularity of otters as pets is unquestionably linked to their active promotion by owners on social media outlets, in otter cafes, and in high-profile media outlets," report co-author Naruse Yui said in a press release.

"These owners and the media outlets bear a social responsibility not to encourage the purchase of otters, which may have entered the pet trade under dubious circumstances or even be illegally smuggled into Japan."

Small-clawed otters are designated as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and their trade across borders is restricted.

Harry Harajuku Terrace Cafe manager Mayu Saito told Kyodo News in 2017 that all the otters at the cafe were bred legally and purchased in Japan.

Animal welfare groups say wild animals belong in the wild. ( Instagram: Harry Hedgehog Cafe )

The ABC approached Harry Harajuku Terrace Cafe for a response to concerns over the threat to the Asian small-clawed otter, but they did not respond by publication time.

According to the Traffic report, the most serious concern appeared to be the increased visibility and popularity of pet otters on social networking sites, and the possible amplification of the demand by mass media.

Ms Beynon urged social media users to consider the impact of encouraging demand for exotic pets.



"The pet trade is a serious threat to the conservation of otter species and it is demand from customers in Japan that are a significant part of the problem," she said.

"People have to realise that there's a lifetime of cruelty for the animal that's behind their Instagram or their Facebook photo."

'The welfare of the animals has to come first'

A woman advertises an owl and parrot cafe in Tokyo's Asakusa district. ( ABC News: Michael Walsh )

In addition to hedgehogs and otters, Japan also offers a diverse range of other quirky cafes, from owl and rabbit cafes to the Tokyo Snake Centre, where customers have the option to have a snake as their dining partner.

In South Korea, there's a raccoon cafe where patrons are warned that the animals can bite, and that the cafe would not be responsible for any damaged inflicted by the animals.

Meanwhile, there is at least one cafe in Taiwan that offers its customers the experience of petting an Alpaca.

Other countries like Australia also host pet cafes, though it's mainly domestic animals like cats and dogs.

Experts say the welfare of the animals has to come first. ( Reuters: Ints Kalnins, File )

While wild animals belong in the wild and should not be exploited as pets or props, Ms Beynon said a cat or dog cafe could play a constructive role in helping vulnerable animals.

"If a cafe wants to mix animals with coffee, they should consider doing it to support an adoption service for companion animal rehoming," she said.

"Thousands of cats and dogs animals are abandoned every year and rehoming centres would likely welcome support from cafes in finding new homes among their customers.

"The welfare of the animals has to come first, not the gimmick for the cafe."

