The Virginia Zoo is excited to announce the birth of our first Asian small-clawed otter pups! The 3 male pups were born on August 25th to parents Elbe (F) and Jilin (M) who joined the Zoo in 2024 based on a breeding recommendation from the Asian Small-clawed Otter Species Survival Plan (SSP). The first 30 days of otter pup development are crucial, therefore with the exception of an initial vet exam to get weights, listen to their hearts, and sex the pups, animal care staff have stayed hands-off to provide the otter family uninterrupted time to bond. However, keepers have been monitoring the pups with visual checks 3 times a week to ensure their health and safety. At one month old, the pups have started to open their eyes and wiggle about their nest box, but the trio will not receive another vet exam or their vaccines until they are older. Jilin and Elbe have been excellent and attentive parents to their first litter as a pair. The two are keeping busy tending to the pups and each other during this joyous transition. Male Asian small-clawed otters are involved in the rearing process, and Jilin has been taking great care of Elbe and the pups. Their keepers report that everyone is keeping busy and enjoying bonding behind the scenes. Due to the delicate nature of the otter pups, the introduction process back onto the outdoor habitat will be slow. When baby otters are born, they do not have their waterproof coat yet, so the introduction process to water will be gradual, starting no sooner than when they are 9 weeks old. During this time, Elbe and Jilin will teach the pups how to swim while still behind the scenes and in shallow pools to ensure the safety of each little one. Depending on the weather and the pups’ progression through their milestones, we hope to see the otters transition back outdoors and visible to the public in roughly 14-16 weeks. We are thrilled for this new chapter for our otters and will provide updates from our animal care team on our social media channels!

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