Featured Image Credit: Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
By Jessica Kittel
We all know that babies are a little bit awkward when they’re first learning to move around. Human babies toddle, chicks flail trying to fly, humpback calves just kind of flop when learning to breach, but otter pups attempting their first swim has to be the epitome of adorable awkwardness.
According to Gulf News, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in the United Arab Emirates recently welcomed four baby otters (aka pups) into their family. The gestation period for these otters is usually right around two months and a mother will normally give birth to two or three pups at a time. Just to add to their adorable-ness, the pups are born without teeth and with their eyes closed. Mom and Dad otter work together to take care of the little pups. Dad otter provides food for Mom, while Mom is in charge of taking care of and nursing the little ones. The pups eyes will begin to open by the 40th day, and by the 60th day they start learning the art of swimming.
These pups aren’t the only adorable baby animals debuting at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. They are joined by baby hedgehogs (hoglets) as well as a baby black tip shark (also called a pup), Clown fish, jellyfish, and a fire-bellied toad! Talk about an onslaught of cuteness!