Otter You Glad for the Holidays?
December 22, 2008
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.
Small-clawed otters are one of the smallest otter species in the world. Found in the mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands in Southeast Asia, they feed on fish, frogs, crabs, crayfish and shellfish in nature.Its forepaws are distinct, with the claws not extending above the fleshy pads of the toes and fingers, making feeding with them more efficient. A social species, Asian small-clawed otters live in an extended family group with only the alpha pair breeding while previous offspring help to raise the youngest litter. Habitat loss and hunting are the greatest threat to the Asian small-clawed otters.
Bronx Zoo visitors can see Asian small-clawed otters inside JungleWorld, a tropical rain forest habitat. JungleWorld is a great place to warm up while visiting during “Hess Presents the Bronx Zoo’s Wild Winterland” event December 20 through January 4. To plan a trip and to learn more about the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Bronx Zoo, visit www.bronxzoo.com