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 text