Important Otter Pup-date!

It's time for a health check! We caught up with Keeper James at Otter Falls in the Foot Safari, to find out how the team gave the Park's newest little arrival, a 9-week-old female Asian short-clawed otter pup called Thiên thần, her very first important health check.  

Keeper James told us 'We've been hands-off since the pup was born, as we must let Beatrix and Kovu have important bonding time with their pup. We've been following the BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) husbandry guidelines, so this health check will be the first time we have been able to get hands-on with the pup.' 

The health check is vitally important to ensure the pup is developing as she should be. It involves a physical check, microchipping and weighing the little one. 

Vital Breeding Success

The birth is a vitally important success in Asian short-clawed otter breeding across BIAZA collections, as this species is classed as Vulnerable to extinction out in the wild due to habitat destruction and pollution. 

Asian short-clawed otters are also threatened by the exotic pet trade, which has been accelerated in recent years by viral videos on TikTok of these otters being kept as pets, residing in homes and even being dressed up in outfits. While this may seem cute to viewers, BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) warns that engaging with this material online contributes to the harmful perception that these wild animals can be kept as domestic pets, and may increase the numbers of otters being poached in the wild to be sold into the illegal pet trade.

The important little pup is expected to start swimming very soon and eating solid food in just a few weeks, under the careful guidance of her parents while gaining more confidence each day. 

Therefore, the conservation of this species is vital to ensure their future and the birth at Woburn couldn't come at a more important time to educate the public about otter conservation, reduced human interaction and the importance of enriching, natural lifestyles for otters in captivity.

Spot the pup for yourself this half-term!

Visitors can spot the pup, Beatrix and Kovu within their purpose-built Otter Falls enclosure in the Foot Safari, as the little otter pup continues to grow and explore more each day.