New Forest wildlife park welcomes another giant otter cub
Ari Rana is the second of the endangered creatures to be born there in the space of a year
The New Forest Wildlife Park is welcoming the arrival of another endangered giant otter cub - the second there in the space of a year.
The female cub, named Ari Rana, was born to parents Ibera and Simuni at the site near Ashurst on July 13th.
At 14 years old, Simuni is the oldest giant otter within Europe to sire young.
Ari Rana, whose name means “water jaguar” in the South American tribal language of Tupi.
She joins her siblings who are 10 months and 1 year 9 months old, bringing the park's total number of giant otters to eight.
Now at over 14 weeks, Ari Rana can be seen out and about in her enclosure with her loving family.
Biggest sister Karanambu is doing a fantastic job helping mum and dad, whilst Guapo and Acari who were born on Christmas Day provide a little too much excitement and rough play for the young cub.
Bosses say her arrival marks another successful contribution to the conservation of the species.
Giant otters are the largest of the 13 otter species and can reach up to 6 feet in length. They are native to the Amazon where their decline has been attributed to the loss of their natural habitats and historical hunting for their valuable pelts.
Lizzy Macnamara, senior keeper at the New Forest Wildlife Park, said:
"We are thrilled with the arrival of Ari Rana, marking our third successful litter of Giant otter cubs.
"We are very proud to be committed to the conservation of this endangered species, as every birth is a positive step towards securing their future."