ZooBorns

Pile o' Otter Babies

Otter pups always provide for a generous helping of "pile-on".  This series of images taken at the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka, Japan is no exception. The Asian Small-Clawed Otter pups, born in late August, are still on display to the public and have met with much popularity this fall.

Photo credits: travisball and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Babies of M’Bopicuá

Uruguay's M’Bopicuá Breeding Station works to protect and repopulate native species in danger of extinction around their conservation area. A member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, M’Bopicuá also focuses on environmental education and training with local school children.

Yesterday M’Bopicuá, known in Spanish as Estación de Cría de Fauna M'Bopicuá, shared three beautiful species born at their location, all of which are new to ZooBorns. 

Pampas Cat Kitten

 

Southern Screamer Parents and Chicks

Southern River Otter Pup

For information on each of the species above click Continue Reading

Otter Twins in Auckland - Handfuls of Fluff

Jana and Juno, the Auckland Zoo's resident otter couple, spent a year in courtship before they decided they liked one another. Asian small-clawed otters mate for life but are "notoriously fussy" about who that mate will be. Well a few weeks ago Jana gave birth to two fluffy male pups, weighing just 400-500 grams or just about a pound.

Baby otter does not look pleased

I will trade you anything for your handful of otter

"Otters don't develop their waterproof coats until three months, so for now with their big strong heads on top of their little uncoordinated bodies and their soft furry coats, they're incredibly cute - rather like cuddly little baby bull dogs." explained Auckland Zoo otter team leader, Amy Dixon. These little pups are the first Asian small-clawed otters born at an Australasian zoo in six years.

Thanks to Abbey Allpress for the tip!

World's Cutest Otter Pups Debut on Camera

A second serving of adorable Asian Small-clawed Otter pups born just three weeks ago at Sea World Orlando. As you can hear on camera, these social otters often communicate vocally, in this case with a very fitting chirp.

Asian Otters Galore!

Just last week we announced the arrival of two Asian Small-clawed Otter pups at SeaWorld San Diego. Now we find out that SeaWorld Orlando has their own batch. Thought you'd want us to share...

Photo credits:  Jason Collier/SeaWorld Orlando 

The smallest of all otters, Asian Small-clawed Otters are also notable for their paws, which grasp things much like human hands do. They are the only otters that grab prey with their paws instead of their teeth.

Otter pups born at SeaWorld San Diego

For the first time in more than 10 years, Asian small-clawed river otters have been born at SeaWorld San Diego, making their debut on Feb. 7.

One male and one female pup are being raised in a behind-the-scenes den at Sea Lion and Otter Stadium.  The pups are in good health, and are being well taken care of by their very protective, first-time parents, Leo and Giselle. 

Otter You Glad for the Holidays?

These baby small-clawed otters are getting right into the holiday spirit at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, as they pose for a “family photo.” Not yet ready for primetime visitors, these four little ones were born on October 24 to their proud parents - mom, an eight-year-old female who hails from the Singapore Zoo, and dad, a nine-year-old male originally from Tokushima, Japan.

Otter Pups at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

These adorable African spotted-neck otter pups debuted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium early last year. While it might be old news, we couldn't help but sharing these ridiculous little guys. 

 

Eno the Orphan Otter

Little Eno got off to a rough start when his mother was accidentally killed by a car in the spring of this year. Luckily, staff at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores found him early enough to save him. Unlucky for the aquarists, raising a baby otter is a lot of work, requiring around the clock bottle-feeding until he was old enough for fish. Additionally, they had to teach him to swim and hunt. Now six months old, he loves to romp (but apparently still enjoys eating and sleeping).