Otter Cam is Back as Melbourne Zoo Family Keeps Growing

The popular family-of-six has returned for a second season of viewing via a new camera set up for Zoos Victoria’s ‘Animals at Home’ (https://www.zoo.org.au/animals-at-home/) free livestreaming.

There are now livestream cameras positioned in both of the family’s nesting boxes, giving animal lovers at home the chance to watch the otters cuddling, wrestling and playing with each other, no matter where the family decides to nest.

The three male and one female Asian small-clawed otter pups were born to their first-time parents in February last year and became a worldwide hit when they first appeared on Zoos Victoria's 'Animals at Home'.

Melbourne Zoo Wild Sea Life Sciences Manager Harna Burton said the pups are now as big as their parents, and growing and developing more every day.

"The family is so curious, vocal and energetic," Ms Burton said. "The pups are very cheeky, and love using their dexterous hands to investigate items like pebbles.

“The males are especially boisterous, but all of them are really interactive and enjoy spending time together."

Asian small-clawed otters are the world's smallest otters. They are classified as Vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.

Native to rainforests in several Asian countries, wild populations of Asian small-clawed otters are threatened by poaching and habitat destruction to make way for housing and unsustainable palm oil plantations.

Melbourne Zoo's Snow Leopards, Penguins, Giraffes and Zebras as well as Werribee Open Range Zoo's Lion pride also have their own dedicated webcams that can be viewed via the ‘Animals at Home’ page, along with keeper talks and virtual tours of Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.

Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary are currently closed to members and visitors in line with COVIDSafe directions.