Andrew
12-18-2007, 12:57 PM
NEWS RELEASE
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES 2nd MAMMAL BIRTH, A FRESHWATER OTTER
PUP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public can help name the young female African spotted-necked otter
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a gift for its visitors. Starting today
(December 18), the public can see a baby African spotted-necked otter in
Wild About Otters - and help name the female pup.
The freshwater otter pup was born on September 27, behind-the-scenes at
the Wild About Otters exhibit. The pup is the third African
spotted-necked otter born at the aquarium. Two other female pups -
Kazana (KAH-ZAH-NAH) and Ajabu (AH-JAH-BOO), were born to parents Neema
(NEE-MAH) and Denny (DEN-EE) on Nov. 3, 2006.
The healthy, 13-week-old female pup and mom Kamili (KAH-MILL-EE) were
moved today from a behind-the-scenes area to their exhibit in Wild About
Otters, where visitors can now see the pair. Aquarium staff made the
decision to move mom and pup into the exhibit when they observed the
pup's ability to swim comfortably on her own and move easily in and out
of the water.
Starting today, the public is invited to help the aquarium name the
young female pup. By going to the aquarium's website
(www.montereybayaquarium.org <http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/> ),
people can choose between three Swahili names: Shani, (SHAH-NEE) meaning
"curiosity" or "adventure" since the young pup enjoys exploring her
surroundings; Ziwa, (ZEE-WAH) meaning "lake" or "pond" for the African
spotted-necked otters' love of their watery habitats; and Nukta,
(NEWK-TA) meaning "dot" because of a white spot of fur on the pup's
head.
Voting closes after two weeks on December 31 at 5 p.m. The aquarium will
announce the results of the contest and the new pup's name in the first
week of January.
One of the most charismatic otters in the freshwater otter exhibit,
visitors may remember Kamili playing "chase" and swimming alongside them
at the window of her exhibit. She and mate Kipenzi (KIP-EN-ZEE) had been
living in their enclosure in the Wild About Otters exhibit since it
opened in March.
Aquarium staff discovered Kamili was pregnant by testing her hormone
levels, and verified the pregnancy using ultrasound. Kamili was moved
behind the scenes in mid-September to ensure a safe delivery. A young
otter herself, Kamili is nearly 4 years old and is new to pup rearing.
The otter team is excited to watch Kamili raise this pup. "Kamili is
such a playful otter, so mom and pup are having a lot of fun together.
They spend a lot of time playing, especially in the water," said
Christine DeAngelo, associate curator of mammals.
Kamili and the pup are separated from dad Kipenzi, who has been moved
behind the scenes and will join the family again sometime within the
next few months. In the wild, females typically do most of the pup
rearing, with a normal litter consisting of one to three pups.
The first several months are critical in assuring a pup's survival. At
three to four weeks old, an African spotted-necked pup's eyes and ears
open; up until that point they rely only on their sense of smell to find
their mother. At two months, the pup begins to learn how to swim and the
mother starts teaching them how to hunt.
By three to four months, river otter pups are weaned and rely on solid
foods for their energy and hone their hunting skills until they leave
and become independent at one year old, but stay near their family for
another year or so.
The aquarium's first mammal births Kazana (Swahili for "to busy
oneself") and Ajabu ("surprise"), the one year old "girls" as they are
affectionately known by their keepers, are still extremely playful and
active, keeping mom Neema and dad Denny busy with their antics. The
family of four (Neema, Denny, Kazana and Ajabu) all live in the
adjoining enclosure to Kipenzi, who will soon be reunited with Kamili
and the pup.
"We are thrilled that the African spotted-necked otters are breeding
while on exhibit at the aquarium, which indicates that they are healthy
and comfortable with their surroundings," said DeAngelo.
In the wild, African spotted-necked otters are found in family groups of
a mother and her offspring until the pups reach about five months old
and the father rejoins the group. Their cousins, the Asian small-clawed
otter, which are on exhibit in Wild About Otters, are more commonly
found living with extended family in large groups in their native
Southeast Asian habitat.
The special exhibition Wild About Otters is scheduled to run into 2010.
The exhibit highlights how freshwater otters - just like the popular sea
otters at the aquarium, and people around the world - need clean water
to thrive and survive. Currently featured are five (soon to be seven)
African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small-clawed otters, along
with remarkable tropical fishes, reptiles and plants that share the
otters' lush natural habitats. Actor and wildlife conservation advocate
John Cleese narrates high-definition video clips in the exhibit, sharing
conservation messages about the connections that link lakes, rivers and
oceans.
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of
the oceans.
- 30 -
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM ANNOUNCES 2nd MAMMAL BIRTH, A FRESHWATER OTTER
PUP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Public can help name the young female African spotted-necked otter
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a gift for its visitors. Starting today
(December 18), the public can see a baby African spotted-necked otter in
Wild About Otters - and help name the female pup.
The freshwater otter pup was born on September 27, behind-the-scenes at
the Wild About Otters exhibit. The pup is the third African
spotted-necked otter born at the aquarium. Two other female pups -
Kazana (KAH-ZAH-NAH) and Ajabu (AH-JAH-BOO), were born to parents Neema
(NEE-MAH) and Denny (DEN-EE) on Nov. 3, 2006.
The healthy, 13-week-old female pup and mom Kamili (KAH-MILL-EE) were
moved today from a behind-the-scenes area to their exhibit in Wild About
Otters, where visitors can now see the pair. Aquarium staff made the
decision to move mom and pup into the exhibit when they observed the
pup's ability to swim comfortably on her own and move easily in and out
of the water.
Starting today, the public is invited to help the aquarium name the
young female pup. By going to the aquarium's website
(www.montereybayaquarium.org <http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/> ),
people can choose between three Swahili names: Shani, (SHAH-NEE) meaning
"curiosity" or "adventure" since the young pup enjoys exploring her
surroundings; Ziwa, (ZEE-WAH) meaning "lake" or "pond" for the African
spotted-necked otters' love of their watery habitats; and Nukta,
(NEWK-TA) meaning "dot" because of a white spot of fur on the pup's
head.
Voting closes after two weeks on December 31 at 5 p.m. The aquarium will
announce the results of the contest and the new pup's name in the first
week of January.
One of the most charismatic otters in the freshwater otter exhibit,
visitors may remember Kamili playing "chase" and swimming alongside them
at the window of her exhibit. She and mate Kipenzi (KIP-EN-ZEE) had been
living in their enclosure in the Wild About Otters exhibit since it
opened in March.
Aquarium staff discovered Kamili was pregnant by testing her hormone
levels, and verified the pregnancy using ultrasound. Kamili was moved
behind the scenes in mid-September to ensure a safe delivery. A young
otter herself, Kamili is nearly 4 years old and is new to pup rearing.
The otter team is excited to watch Kamili raise this pup. "Kamili is
such a playful otter, so mom and pup are having a lot of fun together.
They spend a lot of time playing, especially in the water," said
Christine DeAngelo, associate curator of mammals.
Kamili and the pup are separated from dad Kipenzi, who has been moved
behind the scenes and will join the family again sometime within the
next few months. In the wild, females typically do most of the pup
rearing, with a normal litter consisting of one to three pups.
The first several months are critical in assuring a pup's survival. At
three to four weeks old, an African spotted-necked pup's eyes and ears
open; up until that point they rely only on their sense of smell to find
their mother. At two months, the pup begins to learn how to swim and the
mother starts teaching them how to hunt.
By three to four months, river otter pups are weaned and rely on solid
foods for their energy and hone their hunting skills until they leave
and become independent at one year old, but stay near their family for
another year or so.
The aquarium's first mammal births Kazana (Swahili for "to busy
oneself") and Ajabu ("surprise"), the one year old "girls" as they are
affectionately known by their keepers, are still extremely playful and
active, keeping mom Neema and dad Denny busy with their antics. The
family of four (Neema, Denny, Kazana and Ajabu) all live in the
adjoining enclosure to Kipenzi, who will soon be reunited with Kamili
and the pup.
"We are thrilled that the African spotted-necked otters are breeding
while on exhibit at the aquarium, which indicates that they are healthy
and comfortable with their surroundings," said DeAngelo.
In the wild, African spotted-necked otters are found in family groups of
a mother and her offspring until the pups reach about five months old
and the father rejoins the group. Their cousins, the Asian small-clawed
otter, which are on exhibit in Wild About Otters, are more commonly
found living with extended family in large groups in their native
Southeast Asian habitat.
The special exhibition Wild About Otters is scheduled to run into 2010.
The exhibit highlights how freshwater otters - just like the popular sea
otters at the aquarium, and people around the world - need clean water
to thrive and survive. Currently featured are five (soon to be seven)
African spotted-necked otters and four Asian small-clawed otters, along
with remarkable tropical fishes, reptiles and plants that share the
otters' lush natural habitats. Actor and wildlife conservation advocate
John Cleese narrates high-definition video clips in the exhibit, sharing
conservation messages about the connections that link lakes, rivers and
oceans.
The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of
the oceans.
- 30 -