Baby otters

THE otter has reproduced in Spain’s Mogent River for the first time after more than four decades.

The Mogent River is in the north ­ east of the Iberian Peninsula, a tributary of the Besos, which runs through the province of Barcelona.

The new family group is made up of a female and two cubs, born in the summer, who already make daily trips accompanied by their mother. They will continue to do so until they reach approximately one ­ year ­ old, which is the average age of emancipation of this species.

In recent years, individuals had been detected periodically in the River Mogent, a tributary of the Besos River, but they were otters who were passing through and who came from other areas.

Antoni Alarcon, Director of Barcelona Zoo, said: “This finding shows the relevance of the work for the conservation of habitats in order to preserve their biodiversity.”

NEW FAMILY: Two cubs were born in the summer.