News and Stories

CINCINNATI, OH (June 15, 2026) – Asian small-clawed otter pups Shrimp, Guppy & Mackerel, born March 23, 2026, have completed their swim lessons and have graduated to the large pool in the outdoor habitat. They are viewable (when they’re not inside napping) to the public in their outdoor habitat in Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Elephant Trek now!

Photos | Video

“Mom, Munti, and dad, Flounder and big brothers Ripple, Splash, Scuttle and Puddles have done a great job teaching the pups to swim in pools in their indoor space, so they’re ready to go outside,” said Wendy Rice, Cincinnati Zoo’s team lead for Siamang Point at Elephant Trek. “It’s been so much fun watching the older boys learn how to help take care of their little brothers! Splash and Puddles are doing so great with babysitting and helping momma corral and relocate the pups when needed. Ripple was the most involved with swimming lessons, scooping up his little bros and dunking them into the pool. And he did not go easy on them!”

According to Rice, this round of pups mastered water faster than their older brothers, thanks in large part to Ripple’s rough-housing and tough love. So far, Scuttle has been the least interested in caring for his younger siblings, but there’s still a lot for them to learn and plenty more opportunities for Scuttle to get involved.

Moe the Babirusa, that shares the Asian-small-clawed otter habitat. “The babirusa Species Survival Plan selected Moe to be a non-breeding individual, so living with other babirusa wasn’t really in the cards for Moe. By sharing his habitat with the otters, Moe’s life is more enriched than if he were living alone. The otters and Moe provide each other with company, mental and physical stimulation, and even novel foraging opportunities for each other. We were surprised to learn that Asian small-clawed otters love peanuts (which they snatch from Moe’s snack balls occasionally). Similarly, Moe has been observed snacking on the otters’ leftover fish and shrimp!,” said Rice.

Their co-habitation isn’t all sunshine and rainbows though. As with any roommate situation, there are occasional altercations, but the otter team monitors all interactions and is ready to intervene if necessary to make sure that all the animals are safe. The vast majority of their interactions with each other are neutral or positive categories, and the team is optimistic that the group will become even more comfortable together as the pups mature and settle down a little!

The Zoo opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Members get Early Entry and are welcome to enter the Zoo at 9 a.m. Download the mobile app featuring a GPS-enabled digital map to find the otters, food locations, and to receive special announcements. You can even create your own itinerary!