JAPAN / AUSTRALIA: Baby sea otter mesmerizes visitors in Japan while rare Sumatran tiger cubs debut in Australia

Record ID: 464829

  • Title: JAPAN / AUSTRALIA: Baby sea otter mesmerizes visitors in Japan while rare Sumatran tiger cubs debut in Australia
  • Date: 21st April 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KAYO KAWANISH, 35-YEAR-OLD SAYING: "As a mother of two children, she reminds me of how hard I was when they were young." MOTHER CARRYING HER BABY, GOOD SHOT (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KEEPER SAYING: "She is always with her baby, even while eating, and keeps grooming the baby's fur whenever it gets rough. I think there are a lot of things we can learn from her." MORE OF MOTHER AND BABY SEA OTTER, GOOD SHOTS
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAC8NIJY26NCZ26U52S9GZZ63KK
  • Story Text: A tiny sea otter pup is mesmerizing visitors at an Aquarium in Wakayama prefecture, 500 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.
    It was born on March 30, weighing 1.2 kilogrammes and has shot to stardom at the aquarium, surpassing the ever-popular penguin. Hundreds of visitors gather around the tank every day to see the pup float. It still hasn't learned how to swim.
    "The baby is so cute," said 10-year-old Tagami Kawanishi, one of the visitors attracted by the baby.
    Flora, the mother, has been dedicating most of her time and energy to feed and groom her beloved baby.
    "As a mother of two children, she reminds me of how hard I was when they were young," said 35-year-old Kayo Kawanishi who came there after hearing the news of a new-born baby.
    "She is always with her baby, even while eating, and keeps grooming the baby's fur whenever it gets rough. I think there are a lot of things we can learn from her, " said otter-keeper Asuka Hazama.
    In the early 20th century, sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their luxurious fur.
    It is still an endangered species, but the sea otter population has recovered slowly due to conservation and animal protection.
    Meanwhile, in Australia, two Sumatran Tiger cubs born two weeks ago are growing into adorably furry felines.
    The cubs live in an enclosure called Tiger Island at the theme park Dreamworld, which is a registered zoo.
    Two keepers fed the pair with bottles of milk while their mother rested.
    According to the tiger's keepers, the cubs passed their weigh-in and health check 'with flying colours'.
    "These two girls, which are not named yet, but will be, are 18 days old. And they are doing phenomenally well. Currently right now they are just a little under three kilos and are gaining on average 40-60 grams a day", said tiger handler Andy Goldfarb.
    People visiting Tiger Island said they just couldn't get enough of the cubs.
    "Oh my gosh they are so adorable and you never get to see... I've never seen tiger cubs up close... they're so gorgeous," two visitors said.
    The keepers explain that they are spending a great deal of time getting to know the cubs as it will help them adjust to life in captivity. Many see captive breeding as critical to the survival of the tigers.
    Less than 400 Sumatran Tigers are thought to be left in the wild, making them one of the most critically endangered species on earth.
    Loss of habitat and poaching are the major threats to the Sumatran Tiger.
    There are 125 Sumatran Tigers in 57 institutions worldwide and 29 within the Australasian regional program. Only 3 Sumatran cubs have been born in the region in the last five years, according to Dreamworld Australia.
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