Los Angeles Zoo welcomes baby otters, giraffe for the holidays

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Zoo welcomed three giant otter pups and a baby giraffe to its family this holiday season.

Two female and one male otter pups were born Sept. 14, and were recently introduced to their new habitat in the Rainforest of the Americas exhibit. They are the first litter to meet the public since the April opening of the exhibit.

"The babies have picked up swimming very fast," said Jennie Becker, curator of mammals at Los Angeles Zoo. "The parents are excellent teachers. The staff provided the water and a small pool, but it was the parents putting the babies in the water and encouraging them to swim."

On Nov. 20, a male Masai giraffe named Leo was born. He now stands at about 6 feet tall and weighs nearly 150 pounds. His parents are 6-year-old Hasina and 18-year-old Artemus.

All the baby arrivals can now be seen daily if weather permits.

PHOTOS: Holiday baby animals born at the LA Zoo