Across human cultures, otters have held symbolic roles ranging from tricksters to totems. In some Native American traditions, the otter represents playfulness, femininity, and healing, often appearing as a clan animal. In Zoroastrian belief, the otter is considered a clean creature sacred to Ahura Mazda, making it taboo to kill. Buddhist Jataka tales feature otters demonstrating cooperation and wisdom, such as the story where two otters let a wolf settle their dispute over fish. These narratives reflect a long-standing human fascination with the otter's cleverness and sociability.