Two male smooth-coated otter cubs were born at New Forest Wildlife Park on December 7, 2025, to the UK’s only successful breeding pair, Soriah, aged 11, and Song, aged 13.
Jason Palmer, curator at the park, said: “We’re not just celebrating two healthy cubs.
“We’re contributing to the genetic diversity for a species that’s vanishing from Southeast Asian waterways at an alarming rate.
The pair were born on December 7, 2025. (Image: New Forest Wildlife Park)
“With only our pair successfully breeding in the UK, these births carry the weight of the UK’s conservation programme.”
The smooth-coated otter, native to Southeast Asia, has suffered a 30 per cent population decline over the past three decades, with another 30 per cent decline predicted by 2054.
The park now houses seven of the vulnerable animals, representing more than a third of the UK’s entire smooth-coated otter population.
The cubs are thriving in the care of their parents and older siblings, including seven-year-olds Anupa and Ananda, and lively one-year-old Banhhea.
Lizzy McNamara, senior keeper, said: “Females are dominant and mum runs this romp, but everyone pitches in with babysitting, teaching swimming, exploring together.
“Even Anupa, the spoilt mummy’s boy, now gives his fish to Soriah while she’s nursing.”
Keepers have been documenting their growth. (Image: New Forest Wildlife Park)
The cubs took their first swim on January 23 and passed their health checks at the end of the month.
Keepers have been documenting their weekly growth since they were just 12 days old, sharing detailed measurements and photographs with contacts in Southeast Asia.
This information is vital for rescue centres caring for otter cubs orphaned or confiscated from traffickers, helping carers estimate age and tailor nutrition plans to improve survival and release rates.
The illegal trade in otters is fuelled in part by social media content depicting them as pets.
The Park supports Share Savvy, an initiative educating social media users to spot and report harmful wildlife content that fuels trafficking.
Visitors to New Forest Wildlife Park during February half-term will have the chance to see the cubs exploring their enclosure with the rest of the family group.