Santa Barbara Zoo's otter pups born in October made their first appearance when a series of photos and videos of the three rare Asian clawed otter pups was released by the zoo, The Daily Mail noted.
They are the first litter for parents Gail and Peeta, and are the first of the species to be born at the Santa Barbara Zoo in over six years.
The three rare Asian clawed otter pups were born on Oct. 7 and will be kept in their behind-the-scenes holding area until they are old enough to safely swim and have grown teeth so they can eat solid food, the Santa Barbara Zoo announced in a statement.
Animal Care staff had been waiting eagerly for the arrival of the pups, but their birth still came as a surprise.
"The parents didn't come out to greet us and then we heard squeaks," said Michele Green, the zoo's curator of mammals. "That's how we knew Gail had given birth."
Asian clawed otters are considered to be the smallest otter in the world and, according to zoology blog ZooBorns, are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
They live predominantly in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps throughout Southeast Asia but, unlike sea otters, spend most of their time on land.
An adult Asian clawed otter usually grows up to about 2 feet in length and weighs less than 10 pounds but, what they lack for in size they make up in devotion.
According to ZooBorns, the male and female share a strong bond and raise their young together as devoted parents.
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