This would be a good time to say "awww". A mother otter gave birth to a cuddly little cub at Monterey Aquarium in California this weekend.
As Brynne Whittaker reports, the baby is cute beyond belief.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
THIS FURRY FLUFF-BALL TOOK IN ITS FIRST FEW HOURS OF LIFE IN THE CALM WATERS OF THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM'S OPEN OCEAN TIDE-POOL.
THE OTTER BABY QUICKLY BECAME THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
IT WAS CUTENESS OVERLOAD
(Logan Phares, Aquarium Visitor): "The otter like is so cute and lovely and all that kind of stuff and its just so good."
(Brooke Rosenstein, Aquarium Visitor): "It's so cute. Just a little cuddly ball"
AFTER THE BIRTH--MOMMY OTTER SPENT HER MORNING FEEDING THE PUP AND GROOMING IT...AQUARIUM TRAINERS SAY THE MOM'S PRIORITY IS PUFFING UP THE BABY'S FUR SO THAT IT WILL FLOAT.
(Dan Albro, Aquarium Trainer): "She wants to make sure it's got lots of air in that fur, the baby is going to have to float on its own in the ocean, and she needs to make sure that's happening,"
AND WHY WOULD THE OTTER MAMA CHOOSE TO SWIM INTO THE TIDEPOOL TO GIVE BIRTH?
(Brynne Whittaker, Reporting/standup): "You can see the difference between the choppy waters in the open ocean, compared to the calm waters in te tide pools at the aquarium. That's why trainers say that otter moms come here to give birth."
(Dan Albro, Aquarium Trainer): "Can you imagine having to groom, nurse while the waves are pummeling you constantly? This is a nice sheltered area for this female to have her cub,"
THE OTTER MOM AND HER PUP CAN STAY AS LONG AS THEY WANT..BUT AQUARIUM STAFF SAY EVENTUALLY THEY'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THE AREA TO GET FOOD.
FOR NOW THOUGH--ITS A RELAXING OASIS FOR THE MOM AND HER NEWBORN TO TAKE A BREAK.