Forget puppy love, it’s a pair of otters in Gweek that are proving love can build a bridge higher than any dam as they prepare to mark their first anniversary together.

Things have been fruity for Apricot and Harris ever since they were introduced on March 31 last year at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.

The Asian short-clawed otter pair both had difficult starts in life, with Apricot born at Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary on July 24, 2004. After ten years living with her sister Mango at Birmingham Sea Life Centre, however, the sisters began having difficulties – as there usually one dominant female within a territory – and Apricot was relocated to Gweek.

Apricot found her long-whiskered lover when Harris arrived from Welsh Mountain Zoo at Conwy. Born in 2010 as the runt of his litter, the rest of his family were showing some aggression towards him so he moved to the sanctuary to pair up with Apricot.

The two immediately hit it off and now when they aren’t snuggled up together for a nap they can usually be seen running around their enclosure together.

Explaining just how far their loves goes, Grace Jones, junior animal care assistant at the sanctuary, said: “Apricot had to undergo some dental work recently, which involved her spending most of the day at the vets. When she returned to the sanctuary Harris was so relieved he gave her his rations of his feed.”

To celebrate the otterly adorable duo, the sanctuary is hosting a special otter week all this week, with talks and feeds scheduled, as well as a fun otter word search for children and a chance to be entered into a competition to win an otter feeding session with a member of the animal care team.