Newborn endangered otter quadruplets named after pandemic politicians

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo has celebrated the birth of baby otter quadruplets – with witty names in a nod to the UK’s pandemic politicians.

The zookeepers picked pandemic themed names for the cubs with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the chief medical officer Chris Whitty being honoured along with references to lockdown bubbles and the UK’s tier system.

Zookeeper Jamie Baker said: “We are delighted to announce the birth of our four Asian short-clawed otter cubs at the zoo.

“Our dedicated keeper team decided to name the two male and two female cubs Tia, Bubble, Rishi and Witty, to reflect the strange and difficult year the cubs were born into.

“Our vet conducted a health check at eight weeks of age and confirmed they are all growing well, developing as they should and receiving the best level of care from their parents.

“They will stay with mum and dad to learn how to be proper otters for at least the next two years before potentially starting families of their own.

“Born to our resident otters Little John and Robin, just before we closed for the third lockdown, these four cubs represent a huge milestone for the conservation of a species that is growing increasingly more vulnerable to extinction.

“Robin and Little John arrived at the zoo in June 2020 but it was clear that the pair had really hit it off.”

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo curator of collections, Jason Palmer, is the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Studbook keeper for Asian short-clawed otters, as well as being a global advisor for the species.

As a result of his vital work, the birth of these cubs at Battersea symbolises the start of a reformed management strategy for this species within zoological facilities.

EAZA are hoping to now be able to maintain Asian short-clawed otters within a European Endangered Species Breeding Programme – with Battersea Park Children’s Zoo leading the way with managing the species in Europe.

This will help zoos across Europe to best manage their otters, as well as further afield in Japan, the USA and Australia.

“We can better ensure there is a genetically viable population of Asian short-clawed otters in captivity to act as an insurance population if their wild counterparts were to go extinct,” added Mr Baker.

“Across South and South-East Asia, the wild populations of this species are in dramatic decline due to habitat degradation and the illegal pet and wildlife trade.

“Little John, Robin and their cubs represent the start of a new, safe and future-proof population of Asian short-clawed otters within zoos that will directly contribute to the conservation of wild otters across a range of countries including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.”

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo has recently launched an appeal for public support as they fight to survive their third closure during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The zoo has organised a Crowdfunder page to fund the essential upkeep of the animals until visitors can return.

More than £150 is needed every day for essential feeding, and £25,000 on every month for all operations.

The zoo currently cares for 50 species of animals and is home to many mammals, birds and reptiles – including a number of critically endangered species such as the cotton-top tamarin, Bali starlings, Scottish wildcats and lemur.