North American River Otters BORN AT ZOO MIAMI!

On February 6, 2023, our five-year-old North American river otter, “Zinnia,” gave birth to three healthy pups at the Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit at Zoo Miami! This is Zinnia’s second litter of babies. After they were born, the pups underwent a quick neonatal exam to determine their genders and heights, as well as an overall physical exam to confirm that they are all in good health.

Following a pregnancy of approximately two months, the otter pups, one female and two males, were born in a secluded den, where they were well cared for by their mother. They remained isolated behind the scenes for some time to ensure that Zinnia and her babies had minimal disturbances while they bonded and grew.

Zinnia arrived at Zoo Miami in April 2019 from the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island where she was born. The litter’s father is seven-year-old “Edison,” who arrived to Zoo Miami in October 2016 after being rescued as an orphan and hand-raised by a group called Wild Florida.