The Bedford Estates, LondonTwo adorable Asian short-clawed otter pups have reached an important early milestone after receiving their first health check and microchips from the Park's animal keeping team.
Born to experienced parents Beatrix and Kovu on the 6th of August, the pups have spent their first few weeks safely tucked away in the family's nesting area, cared for by their parents and monitored by keepers from a distance.
At seven weeks old, the youngsters were carefully examined for their first routine health check, carried out by trained members of the animal keeping team. During the examination, keepers checked the pups' overall condition, recorded their weights and development, and implanted identification microchips for their healthcare records.
A Healthy Start
The health check provided an opportunity for keepers to ensure both pups are thriving and developing as expected.
Microchipping is an important part of animal care, providing each otter with a unique identification number that will remain with them throughout their lives. Alongside information such as their date of birth, sex, weight and medical history, the records help keepers provide the highest standards of care while supporting population management programmes across Europe.
Catherine Doherty, Head of Section, Animal Encounters said “The keeper team are delighted to confirm that both pups are healthy and continuing to grow well under the watchful care of Beatrix, Kovu and the rest of the otter family. The next few weeks will be particularly significant as the pups begin reaching some of their most important developmental milestones.”
Swimming Lessons Coming Soon...
Visitors may soon spot the youngsters venturing further from the den, with their first taste of solid food expected shortly. Even more exciting will be their introduction to the water, where they will begin learning to swim under the supervision of their parents and older siblings.
Asian short-clawed otters are highly social animals, and the wider family group will play an important role in helping the pups learn essential behaviours as they continue to grow.
A Growing Otter Family
The new arrivals are the latest additions to Woburn's thriving otter family, which lives in the specially designed habitat at Otter Falls (no.25 on the map), located in the Foot Safari. Beatrix and Kovu have already successfully raised several litters, with their first pup, Thiên thần, reaching maturity before being transferred to another wildlife park, earlier this year, to meet a new mate and start her own family.
Supporting Conservation
While the pups are undoubtedly a cause for celebration, their arrival also represents an important contribution to the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Ex situ Programme for the conservation of the species. Asian short-clawed otters are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the wild, facing threats including habitat loss, wetland degradation, pollution, declining food sources and illegal capture for the exotic pet trade.
Beatrix and Kovu were recommended as a breeding pair as part of the managed conservation programme, helping to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population in European zoological collections.
Spot the pups this half term!
Make sure to keep an eye out for the tiny pups as they continue to grow and explore more each day in Otter Falls in the Road Safari on your next visit by booking your Safari Day Tickets online!
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