This is the heartwarming moment a friendly otter reaches through enclosure holes to shake hands with zoo visitors.

Lu Mike and his friends caressed the hands of the adorable mammal at a sanctuary in Zhe Jiang, China, on January 24.

Footage shows a zookeeper opening the cover of the holes. The animal then immediately poked its hands through the opening, which the holidaymakers gently touched.

The otter can be seen standing upright, seemingly enjoying being petted.

The filmer said: 'It was a fun experience, and we were so happy that we were able to pet the otter.'

Otters are generally docile and non-aggressive towards humans, but their behaviour can be unpredictable. Most countries do not allow them to be kept as pets.