Japan was the top destination for otters recovered from smugglers in Southeast Asia between 2015 and 2017, with experts pointing to the species' growing popularity as pets in the country, according to a recent survey by a wildlife monitoring group.

Of 59 otters recovered during the three-year period, 32, all found in Thailand, were to be sent to Japan, the international organization Traffic said.

The cross-border trade of all four species of otters found in Southeast Asia is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as the Washington Convention.

Otters' growing popularity as a pet in Japan could be one of the reasons behind the poaching and illegal trade of the animal, Traffic said.

In the country known for quirky animal cafes, otter cafes are gaining popularity and an increasing number of social media accounts by people owning otters are showing up.