Your morning adorable: Giant otters relax in French zoo

– Lindsay Barnett – LA Times

We think we’re all on the same page in thinking that the world’s most adorable animal species is the otter.  (Are we right, or are we right? Although giant pandas and polar bears give them a run for their money, we feel safe in saying that otters come out on top.)

These four — adults Diego and Yukuna and their offspring, which were born July 31 — are giant otters, an endangered species native to South America.  Adult giant otters (which swim in freshwater rivers, streams, lakes and springs rather than the ocean) can reach 6 feet in length and weigh more than 70 pounds!  The species has a number of nicknames that reference its size, including “river wolf” and “water dog.”

Sadly, due primarily to hunting for their fur, there are only an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 giant otters remaining in the wild today.  So the birth of these two cubs at France’s Doue Zoo is cause for celebration!

Photo credit: Francois Gay  AFP/Getty Images

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