Buttonwood Park Zoo welcomes trio of North American river otter pups

The Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford just got a whole lot cuter, as they recently welcomed three North American river otter pups.

The pups are “getting acclimated to their surroundings and beginning the process of learning to swim,” according to a press release from the zoo.

Keith Lovett, who is the director of the zoo, said the pups are expected to be introduced into the otter habitat within a few weeks. Then, a naming contest will be announced.

Dani, the zoo’s female otter, gave birth to the pups on St. Patrick’s Day.

“This is Dani’s second litter born at Buttonwood Park Zoo,” the release noted. “She gave birth to two pups in March of 2014. Dani, now 6 years old, arrived at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in April of 2013. She lives with the Zoo's two 7-year-old male river otters, Duncan and Donut. Based on behavioral observations by the animal care staff, it has been determined that Donut is the father of the new pups, one male and two females.”

Lovett said the birth of the pups was “exciting, as Dani, Duncan and Donut are favorites among Zoo staff and guests.”

The release also noted that the pups weighed about a quarter of a pound when they were born. Now, they weigh two and a half pounds.

“Otter pups are born almost helpless and require significant care by their mother to survive,” the release read. “Dani is once again demonstrating excellent skill in caring for her offspring. As is normal for the species, the pups did not open their eyes until four weeks after birth.”

While the Buttonwood Park Zoo has had North American river otters since 2000, Lovett said the otter pups will likely leave the zoo once they reach sexual maturity and move to another accredited zoo as part of a larger breeding program.