Meet the just-named Toronto Zoo's 3 river otter pups - Berwick, DeeDee and Mavis
· Toronto Sun
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They’re otter-ly adorable.
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
The Toronto Zoo’s trio of river otter pups, born in April, have been named Berwick, DeeDee and Mavis after an influential zoo supporter.
“We are deeply honoured to name the pups in memory of Mavis Berwick, her family, and their lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation,” said the zoo in a press release.
“The Berwick Family of King City shares an inspiring and long-standing history of generosity with the Toronto Zoo, having supported critical projects such as the Amur Tiger Habitat redevelopment project and the new Red Panda Habitat through the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. The Berwick Family are now being recognized for a transformational gift to the Zoo’s new Community Conservation Centre.”
River otter habitat front and centre of Community Conservation Centre
The Toronto Zoo is building a new Community Conservation Centre – a state-of-the-art facility – that will be located at the main entrance and will feature a river otter habitat.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Berwick Family of King City for their lifelong dedication to conservation at the Toronto Zoo,” says Kathy Koch, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, in a statement.
“Mrs. Berwick has ensured that their legacy of philanthropy lives on well into the future, through this new and dynamic home for the Zoo’s North American river otter family.”
Not only do the three pups have names, but they’re out exploring their habitat on a daily basis.
The trio of river otters are continuing to grow under mother Maybelle’s “watchful care,” says the zoo.
“River otter pups remain with their mother for approximately seven to eight months, learning to swim, dive, hunt and navigate aquatic environments before becoming independent,” said the zoo in its press release.
River otters are native to North American waterways and are described by the zoo as “ among Canada’s most charismatic aquatic mammals and serve as important indicators of healthy freshwater ecosystems. Their presence often signals clean water, abundant fish populations and thriving biodiversity.”
“We’re thrilled to share the three pups with our community,” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo, in a statement. “They are the first river otters born at your Toronto Zoo in over 40 years and while native to Ontario, few people have seen this elusive species.”