The 11-week-old pups are in good health, are gaining weight and are being raised by their mother, said Michelle Jeffries, the aquarium's associate curator of mammals.
"They're absolutely captivating, I can't help but smile when watching them,"Â she said. The parents of Kazana (Swahili for "to busy oneself"Â) and Ajabu ("surprise"Â) are Neema and Denny, two of the 10 freshwater otters that will be the stars of Wild About Otters.
Neema and Denny, on loan to Monterey Bay Aquarium from the San Diego Zoo for the exhibition, have raised three other pups together since 2002. This litter marks the first time Neema has given birth to two pups and the first time she's had female pups. Her past three litters have consisted of single male pups.
"We wanted to be sure the pups would survive before sharing them with the world,"Â said Jeffries, "especially since this is Neema's first time raising two pups."Â
In the wild, females typically do most of the pup rearing, with a normal litter consisting of one to three pups.
The first several months are critical in assuring a pup's survival. At three to four weeks old, African spotted-necked pups' eyes and ears open; up until that point they rely only on their sense of smell to find their mother. At two months, the pups begin to learn how to swim and the mother starts teaching them how to hunt.
By three to four months, river otter pups are weaned and rely on solid foods for their energy and hone their hunting skills until they leave become independent at one year old. Video clips and information about Kazana and Ajabu's developmental and behavioral stages are online at Monterey Bay Aquarium's web site.
"Neema is a wonderful mother and it's an honor to watch her care for the pups,"Â said Jeffries. "She is a watchful, but calm mother - letting her girls explore on their own but always nearby when the pups call for her."Â
Visitors will be able to see both parents and pups when Wild About Otters opens at the aquarium on March 31. Kazana, Ajabu, Neema and Denny will be housed together in one exhibit. Kamili (female) and Kipenzi (a male who is one of Neema's earlier offspring) will occupy an adjoining exhibit.
In the wild, African spotted-necked otters are found in family groups of a mother and her offspring until the pups reach about five months old and the father rejoins the group. Their cousins, the Asian small-clawed otter, which will also be part of Wild About Otters, are more commonly found living with extended family in large groups in their native Southeast Asian habitat.
The exhibit will be home to two sets of Asian small-clawed brothers - Satu and Dua, and Tiga and Empat - who will captivate visitors with an entertaining range of behaviors, from elaborate water play to ambush games.
The $3.6 million special exhibition, scheduled to run into 2010, marks the first time the aquarium has exhibited freshwater mammals. Until Wild About Otters opens, visitors can get updates on Kazana and Ajabu on Monterey Bay Aquarium's web site.
African spotted-necked otters are the most aquatic of all 13 otter species. Their slender and elongated body and semi-laterally compressed tail aid this agile swimmer as it hunts for fishes and frogs, and frolics with friends. The spotted pattern on their neck, chest and/or groin area is unique to each individual. Unfortunately, their beautiful pelt is one reason these otters are classified as a vulnerable species.
Fur trappers are just one threat facing African spotted-necked otters. Nigerian fishermen see otters as competition for their livelihood, and when they put toxins directly into the water to catch fish they also poison otters. Nylon fishing nets tangle and ultimately kill otters as well. Habitat destruction, pollution and overfishing all gravely threaten this species. Wetlands are drained for homes and farms, leaving otters homeless. Sewage and PCBs leak into the rivers, killing otters and the fish they depend on for food. They are also killed for bushmeat.
"The intention of Wild About Otters is to bring people close to freshwater otters while telling the urgent story of the threatened sea otters just off of our shoreline,"Â said Executive Director Julie Packard.
Wild About Otters will show how wild otters - just like the popular sea otters at the aquarium, and people around the world - need clean water to thrive and survive. The special exhibition will feature six African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small-clawed otters, along with remarkable tropical fishes, reptiles and plants that share the otters' lush natural habitats. Actor and wildlife conservation advocate John Cleese will narrate high-definition video clips in the exhibit, sharing conservation messages about the connections that link lakes, rivers and oceans.
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans. -- www.mbayaq.org
Posted February 7th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
