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First set of otters born at the Zoo in 13 years
Apple Valley, MINN – A litter of three Asian small-clawed otter pups, born this past summer, are now on exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo. They are the first set of otters born at the Zoo since 1994.
Born at the Minnesota Zoo on July 24, the pups–two males and one female–are busy exploring their exhibit on the Tropics Trail. This is the first litter of small-clawed otter pups born at the Zoo since 1994. Since their birth, the pups have been kept under the close eyes of their parents.
The Minnesota Zoo is one of just five institutions to have celebrated small-clawed otter births this year.
The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter in the world, measuring approximately two feet long and weighing less than ten pounds. They are found in Southern India and China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, usually living in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands. Small-clawed otters eat mussels, snails, and crabs in the wild. Both parents rear their young, which usually live with them for 2-5 years.
The Minnesota Zoo is open 363 days a year and is just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 . The Minnesota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. Visit aza.org.
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