Zoo Miami river otter pups growing fast, still behind the scenes

Three North American river otter pups at Zoo Miami are growing quickly and thriving under the care of their mother, Zinnia, according to Ron Magill, the zoo’s communications director.

Born on Feb. 12, the one male and two female pups each now weigh between 3.5 and 4 pounds — a big leap from their birth weights of less than half a pound.

Magill stated in a news release Friday that the pups recently received distemper vaccinations and were microchipped for identification during brief health exams by the Animal Health and Animal Science teams.

“All indications are that the pups are healthy and are continuing to develop well,” the news release stated.

Zinnia, a 7-year-old otter who came to Zoo Miami in 2019 from Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, continues to raise the pups behind the scenes.

Magill said they’re not yet on public display but are expected to move into the habitat in the near future.

According to Zoo Miami, the father, a 9-year-old named Edison, was rescued as an orphan and hand-raised by Wild Florida before arriving at Zoo Miami in 2016.

They said he remains separate from Zinnia and the pups — a natural behavior, as male otters don’t typically help rear young in the wild — but can still be seen daily in his habitat.

North American river otters are known for their playful nature and adaptability to a wide range of freshwater habitats, Magill said.

He said they typically grow to 3–4 feet in length, including their tails, and weigh 12–25 pounds, with males slightly larger than females.

Though once threatened by trapping, today, their greatest risks are habitat loss and pollution. Under human care, they can live up to 20 years — double their average lifespan in the wild, according to Zoo Miami officials.