The Detroit Zoo is at a whole otter level, thanks to its newest arrivals.
Officials announced Monday that three North American river otter pups were recently born at the zoo to mom Kalee and dad Gus.
All three babies are with their mom, away from the exhibit, and where zoo staff is keeping an eye on them, officials said. They added that the pups are meeting all the appropriate development milestones, including doubling their weight in just a week.
The Detroit Zoo said the pups need to grow a bit more before they make their public debut this summer.
Meanwhile, Gus is at the Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat near the front of the zoo, officials said.
Kalee came to the Detroit Zoo in 2018 after she was rescued by hikers who found her injured in Alaska, according to zoo officials. Gus joined her in May 2021.
North American river otters can grow to be two to three feet long with a tail that can be one to one and a half feet long. The mammals weigh between 10 and 30 pounds. They also live an average of 12 years.
Their diet primarily consists of fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents, and insects.
The otter pups are among the latest additions to the Detroit Zoo.
In March, a 2-year-old Siberian tiger named Darya moved to the zoo.
In January, Kali, a 13-year-old polar bear, moved from the Toledo Zoo to the Detroit Zoo.
In December, three African lion cubs were born to 9-year-old lioness Amirah and lion Kalu.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Zoo announces birth of three river otter pups
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
