Spring has begun at AquaZoo: otters, balearic toads and wallaby born

Spring has arrived at AquaZoo. Two Asian clawed otters, balearic toads and one Tammar wallaby were born at the zoo in Leeuwarden.

The Asian clawed otter has a hard time in the wild, in part because its habitat is being reduced by deforestation. Small-clawed otters are also hunted for their fur or to be kept as pets. William Kreijkes, head of animal care, is therefore very pleased with this birth at AquaZoo. "With this we contribute to the preservation of this species and we can make our visitors aware of the threats to these animals in nature."

In addition, the birth of this species in the park remains special, Kreijkes believes.
"In fact, our park once started as Otterpark Aqualutra at the time of the return of the European otter to the Netherlands. Over the years the park has grown into a full-fledged zoo, but the Asian small-clawed otters have been in the park since the early years. Then it's nice to see that they are still doing so well with us."

Eyes closed
Currently, the youngsters cannot yet be seen by visitors, as they still have their eyes closed, but this will probably not last long. Kreijkes says: "The young otters were born as early as March 7, but only around the fortieth day will they start to open their eyes. The youngsters will then be seen outside their nest fairly soon. First they will stay in the indoor enclosure to get acquainted with the water here. If all that goes well, the young otters will also begin to explore the outdoor enclosure."

Asian small-clawed otters are found in the wetlands of Southeast Asia. Unlike other otter species, they live in groups.

Jumping cats
Furthermore, a Tammar wallaby was also born. This species lives in the wild in southern Australia and can be recognized by its gray-brown fur with gray-yellow belly. This species is between fifty and seventy centimeters, making it the smallest species of wallaby there is.

The wallaby is the first species of kangaroo seen by Western explorers. Dutchman François Pelsaert, captain of the Batavia, first saw this species in 1629. He described these animals as "jumping cats.

Tamma bush
These animals get their name from the Tamma bush, under which they like to be sheltered. The species lives in groups of up to fifty conspecifics. It needs very little water to survive and can even drink seawater in an emergency.

Special toad species
Tadpoles were also born of the balearic toad. This species is special because it is found only in Majorca and was assumed to be extinct. However, in 1979 this toad was rediscovered. This species has been protected since then, and thanks to an intensive breeding and reintroduction program by several zoos, there are several hundred pairs again.

The eggs of these toads are carried by the male for about three weeks on his hind legs. When the eggs hatch, he deposits the larvae in a pool where they can continue to grow until they become adult toads. The tadpoles are already visible to visitors, making it easy to follow the metamorphosis from larva to adult balearic toad.

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