Otter-ly adorable: Learn about the 5 baby otters born at SC zoo during winter storm

Chase Karacostas
·1 min read

Remember Egerton, the adorable baby penguin that hatched at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach in 2020?

He’s got competition, big competition.

Five, just as cute (dare we say cuter), baby river otters were born last week during the winter storm at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo in Georgetown.

This baby river otter, just a few days old, was born at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo in January 2021.
This baby river otter, just a few days old, was born at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo in January 2021.

On Tuesday, the zoo’s veterinarian checked on them, and the otter pups are all healthy and gaining weight, Brookgreen said.

In photos shared by Brookgreen, the pups are a little shy (asleep) but still very cute!

Staff at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo check on a baby river otter that was recently born to parents John and Elliott as part of their second litter. January 2022.
Staff at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo check on a baby river otter that was recently born to parents John and Elliott as part of their second litter. January 2022.

Their parents are John and Elliott, who are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Program. The program works to ensure animal populations are healthy and genetically diverse around the globe. This is the second litter from John and Elliott.

The pups won’t be introduced to the Lowcountry Zoo’s exhibits just yet. For now, they’ll spend several weeks with their mom, John, while they grow and learn how to swim.

“John came to us from the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL. She was originally rescued in Florida’s St. John’s River, hence the name John. She is an excellent mother who successfully raised her last litter in early 2020,” Andrea Demuth, Brookgreen’s vice president and curator of zoo collections, said in a statement.

So, move out of the way, Egerton, there are new babies in town.

Just kidding, we love you, too, and think all six of you are equally cute. Maybe.

This baby river otter was born at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo during January 2022’s winter storm to parents John and Elliott.
This baby river otter was born at Brookgreen Gardens’ Lowcountry Zoo during January 2022’s winter storm to parents John and Elliott.