The two-month-old Asian small-clawed otter pup at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium now has a name – Bao!

The name Bao (Bảo) primarily means “treasure” and “precious” in Vietnamese. Asian small-clawed otters are native to Vietnam, but are highly vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and the illegal pet trade.

The male pup has more than quadrupled in weight (now 2.3 pounds) since he was born on November 18 (0.5 pounds). He has opened his eyes, started mouthing solid foods, and enjoys swimming lessons with his protective parents, Sebastian and Pintar, by his side.

Bao will remain behind the scenes at the Asian Forest Sanctuary while he continues to grow, bond with his parents, and wait for the weather to improve.

The pup’s birth was the result of a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian small-clawed otters. The SSP assesses the genetic makeup of each prospective parent before recommending a pairing, helping ensure diversity among small-clawed otters in North American zoos.

Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species and are native to southern India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Highly social and vocal, they use at least a dozen distinct calls along with touch and scent to communicate. In the wild, they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, small fish, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

The birth of the Bao highlights the zoo’s ongoing commitment to conservation, collaboration, and the care of this vulnerable species.