Surat: Sarthana Nature Park in the city is the only zoo in the country where smooth-coated otters breed, but here the otters are giving birth to a bunch of pups, which is not recorded in the country in the past. A female otter delivered seven pups in the zoo’s off-exhibitory breeding facility, and according to the zoo officials, it is the first case in the country.
The pups were delivered by a five-year-old female on Dec 6, and it brought the pups out from a burrow on Wednesday. After confirmation that all the pups are healthy and the mother is taking good care of them, the zoo authorities confirmed the birth.
“We discussed it with senior zoo officials in the country, and they confirmed that it is the first such case in which seven otters were delivered by a female in captivity. Experts also claimed that normally otters do not give birth to this many pups in the wild as well,” Zoo superintendent Dr Rajesh Patel, told TOI.
Special arrangements to keep the pups safe in cold weather are being made. A wooden box facility is being created in the cage for the otter, in which the mother can keep the pups warm. The pups have not opened their eyes.
“It is the first delivery of the mother, and it is behaving normal. Taking good care of the pups, and we are trying to ensure that the pups survive,” added Patel.
Being the only zoo in the country where otters breed proved a major advantage for the park since the zoo received 79 animals and birds in exchange for otters from different zoos in the country. In the city zoo, breeding of otters started in 2008, and up to 2023, a total of 41 pups were born. Of them, 19 otters were exchanged with other zoos in the country.
“Since the start of the breeding in the city zoo, up to four pups were born in one delivery, but the birth of seven pups is unusual. We received 31 different species of animals and birds in exchange for otters till now,” he said.
At present, 23 otters are living in the city zoo, of which six are on display, and the rest are in the off-exhibitory breeding facility. The zoo is in discussion with other zoos in the country to bring a pair of tigers in exchange for a pair of otters.
Surat: Sarthana Nature Park in the city is the only zoo in the country where smooth-coated otters breed, but here the otters are giving birth to a bunch of pups, which is not recorded in the country in the past. A female otter delivered seven pups in the zoo’s off-exhibitory breeding facility, and according to the zoo officials, it is the first case in the country.
The pups were delivered by a five-year-old female on Dec 6, and it brought the pups out from a burrow on Wednesday. After confirmation that all the pups are healthy and the mother is taking good care of them, the zoo authorities confirmed the birth.
“We discussed it with senior zoo officials in the country, and they confirmed that it is the first such case in which seven otters were delivered by a female in captivity. Experts also claimed that normally otters do not give birth to this many pups in the wild as well,” Zoo superintendent Dr Rajesh Patel, told TOI.
Special arrangements to keep the pups safe in cold weather are being made. A wooden box facility is being created in the cage for the otter, in which the mother can keep the pups warm. The pups have not opened their eyes.
“It is the first delivery of the mother, and it is behaving normal. Taking good care of the pups, and we are trying to ensure that the pups survive,” added Patel.
Being the only zoo in the country where otters breed proved a major advantage for the park since the zoo received 79 animals and birds in exchange for otters from different zoos in the country. In the city zoo, breeding of otters started in 2008, and up to 2023, a total of 41 pups were born. Of them, 19 otters were exchanged with other zoos in the country.
“Since the start of the breeding in the city zoo, up to four pups were born in one delivery, but the birth of seven pups is unusual. We received 31 different species of animals and birds in exchange for otters till now,” he said.
At present, 23 otters are living in the city zoo, of which six are on display, and the rest are in the off-exhibitory breeding facility. The zoo is in discussion with other zoos in the country to bring a pair of tigers in exchange for a pair of otters.
