Banyan Wilds Babies

Babies

We have some adorable additions to Banyan Wilds. Twin sloth bear cubs and a single otter pup are growing fast and exploring the streams, rocks and bamboo.

Watch out for these floofs on your next visit!

SOTONG, ASIAN SMALL-CLAWED OTTER PUP

Say hello to Sotong, our Asian small-clawed otter pup born on December 9! The tiny pup's animal keepers have fondly named her Sotong, Malay for squid or octopus— think Seattle Kraken!

The pup is the first offspring for mom Little Frei and dad Conner. Little Frei was among the last litter born in 2016 at Woodland Park Zoo and was named after Seattle Sounders goalkeeper, Stefan Frei. The parents were paired under the Asian Small-clawed Otter Species Survival Plan. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of select species or subspecies.Asian small-clawed otters are very social, gregarious animals. Both mom and dad feed and help care for their young. At birth, the pups weigh about 1½ ounces, a little more than a slice of dense, whole-grain bread! Newborns can’t see or hear so they fully depend on the nurturing care of both parents until they begin developing their senses at about 3 weeks old.

Asian small-clawed otters are markedly more vocal than most otter species with at least 12 different vocalizations. Sotong’s high-pitched squeals and chirps ring loud and clear, an excellent sign that she’s bonding with her parents. You can see the otter pup swimming, sliding and swirling around in the stream this summer!

MADHU AND LILA, SLOTH BEAR TWINS

2022 was off to a wonderful start with the birth of twin sloth bears! The cubs, a boy and a girl, were born on New Year’s Day—the first births of the year at Woodland Park Zoo.

The cubs, Madhu and Lila, were born to first-time mom Kushali and dad Bhutan. This is the second litter of cubs for Bhutan and the first successful birth for Kushali, who was born at Woodland Park Zoo in 2012. The last birth of sloth bears at the zoo was in 2017.

Sloth bears in zoos are rare, with only 34 currently living in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Every birth of sloth bears is significant for the Sloth Bear Species Survival Plan. Species Survival Plans are cooperative breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of select species or subspecies.

You can see these two rambunctious cuties hitching a ride on mom’s back—a unique behavior that sloth bear mothers do to transport their cubs—until they’re 6 to 9 months old. The cubs are still nursing, but starting to explore solid foods like omnivore chow, honey, browse plants, eggs, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and, of course, bug treats!