Otterly Fantastic! New Forest Wildlife Park Celebrates Superstardom of Karanambu, the Baby Giant Otter Cub

The newest resident of New Forest Wildlife Park has become a bona fide social media sensation!  Karanambu, the adorable baby giant otter cub, was born on January 6, 2023, to first-time parents Ibera and Simuni, who were put together through the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).

Named after the homestead of Diane Mcturk, a giant otter conservation legend in Guyana, Karanambu has already captured the hearts of many with her playful and vocal personality. She loves to show off her swimming skills, roll around in the dirt and sandpit, and shout at her keepers for fish, even when it's not feeding time.

Karanambu's antics have been captured in a recent viral Facebook video that has garnered over 1.9 million organic views, with 224,448 people engaging with the post.

Native to the lush forests and winding rivers of the Amazon, giant otters are the largest of the 13 species of otter, growing up to a whopping 6 feet long! These playful creatures are expert fishers, with a diet that mainly consists of fish – including piranha!

Unfortunately, these remarkable animals are an endangered species, with their population declining due to habitat loss and being hunted for their luxurious fur. Each giant otter has unique throat patches, making it easy to identify them individually. They are also social creatures and often live in family groups. 

New Forest Wildlife Park, a proud member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is committed to the conservation of giant otters and its work is not limited to its enclosures. The park supports global conservation strategies for various otter species and works alongside scientists and conservationists through the IUCN otter specialists to research and conserve otters in the wild. The park has even sent funds to the Karanambu research stations to support otter conservation efforts.

"We are thrilled to welcome Karanambu to our giant otter family and excited to share her with the world," said Ed Heap, owner of New Forest Wildlife Park.. "Our work here is more than just providing a home for these amazing animals. It's about education, research, and contributing to the conservation of these endangered species. We are proud to be a part of the efforts to ensure that giant otters like Karanambu thrive in their natural habitats."