Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor
It’s a boy, and a boy, and a boy, and a girl! Four Asian small-clawed otters born in December had their first health check-up with zoo veterinarians today. All signs point to these little ones being healthy and well cared for by their doting mom, dad and older sisters.
The wellness exam was our first opportunity to get weights, administer vaccinations and assess their overall health up close. At 2 months old, these pups are starting to be more mobile and have fully opened their eyes, so the time was right to take a closer look.
We’re pleased to report all four pups are robust and healthy. They currently weigh between 1.3 to 1.5 pounds, have fully round bellies and strong appetites.
The pups were born December 9 to 7-year-old mother Teratai and 11-year-old father Guntur, their third litter. While the older sisters are actively participating in raising the new pups, the oldest brothers from the earlier litters are getting ready to head out to new homes soon; they’ve reached the age when they are ready to leave their parents.
We know everyone is excited to come see these sweet, new faces! As they are just getting more mobile and coordinated, it’ll still be a little time before they are ready to head outdoors. For now, they are cozy in a family den behind the scenes. Once they get some practice with swimming, they’ll start to venture outdoors in early spring.
Occasionally, you might see one of the adult otters out on the exhibit. They might be taking a little break, or sometimes they are grabbing more material to bring back to their indoor den.
You can support this precious family by becoming a ZooParent. Your adoption helps support the
care of the otters and other animal residents, while also directly supporting our conservation field projects including efforts to protect Washington’s own river otters.
It’s a boy, and a boy, and a boy, and a girl! Four Asian small-clawed otters born in December had their first health check-up with zoo veterinarians today. All signs point to these little ones being healthy and well cared for by their doting mom, dad and older sisters.
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| Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. |
The wellness exam was our first opportunity to get weights, administer vaccinations and assess their overall health up close. At 2 months old, these pups are starting to be more mobile and have fully opened their eyes, so the time was right to take a closer look.
We’re pleased to report all four pups are robust and healthy. They currently weigh between 1.3 to 1.5 pounds, have fully round bellies and strong appetites.
 |
| Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. |
The pups were born December 9 to 7-year-old mother Teratai and 11-year-old father Guntur, their third litter. While the older sisters are actively participating in raising the new pups, the oldest brothers from the earlier litters are getting ready to head out to new homes soon; they’ve reached the age when they are ready to leave their parents.
We know everyone is excited to come see these sweet, new faces! As they are just getting more mobile and coordinated, it’ll still be a little time before they are ready to head outdoors. For now, they are cozy in a family den behind the scenes. Once they get some practice with swimming, they’ll start to venture outdoors in early spring.
Occasionally, you might see one of the adult otters out on the exhibit. They might be taking a little break, or sometimes they are grabbing more material to bring back to their indoor den.
You can support this precious family by becoming a ZooParent. Your adoption helps support the
care of the otters and other animal residents, while also directly supporting our conservation field projects including efforts to protect Washington’s own river otters.
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