Aquarium Unveils the Names of the Triplets in Otterly Exciting Way

Thousands of votes poured in and the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) now has names for the triplet Asian small-clawed otters born in December. The male pups' names are Nyx, Baloo and Bodhi.

Nyx is the smallest and quietest. He usually has a grumpy face. The name Nyx is a shortened form of Aonyx which is the genus of Asian small-clawed otters.

Baloo is a bear of a pup. He's chunky and was thequickest to develop. He is also the loudest and most agile. He is hard to photograph because he's always on the move. Baloo means bear in Hindi.

Bodhi is the longest. He's sweet and has freckles on his nose. Bodhi is a fig tree regarded as sacred by Buddhists and native to India and Southeast Asia, which is part of the range of Asian small-clawed otters.

Next door neighbor Otter Ray announced the names in an otterly exciting reveal featuring colorful ice treats made of scallops as staff, volunteers and the community watched in anxious anticipation.

"Ray has been taking part in a lot of exciting predictions, Valentine celebrations and now the name reveal for the pups," said Kristen Upton, NCAFF Lead Otter Keeper. "Each time we come up with a special enrichment that piques his attention and is also healthy for an Asian small-clawed otter."

The pups remain behind the scenes with parents Milli and Binx who have been very attentive first-time parents, teaching the pups otter skills. The two-month-old pups have begun eating solid foods, swimming in deeper water and tussling over shells. The family of five and Otter Ray are an important conservation initiative for the Aquarium which is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The pups share very special genetics. Here are some things that make them one-of-a-kind and promising additions to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® program for Asian small-clawed otters.

• Their grandparents, Si and Fun, were born in the wild.
• The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department confiscated Si and Fun in 2018 and sent them to Ocean Park Hong Kong under the professional care of animal experts there.
• Milli was born at Ocean Park in Hong Kong in 2018 and arrived at NCAFF in Jan. 2024. Binx arrived at the Aquarium in the fall 2024 as her mate, also from an AZA facility.
• These pups represent the successful introduction of new genetics into the SSP® population, increasing genetic diversity and continuing to support a healthy ex situ species population.

The Aquarium will offer the otter pups an opportunity to explore the public habitat in the coming weeks. The community is encouraged to follow the NCAFF social media pages-Facebook, Instagramand Threadsto be the first to hear when the pups will make their debut.

About the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington on U.S. 421 and less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. The Aquarium is one of three Aquariums and a pier that make up the North Carolina Aquariums, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The mission of the Aquarium is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. The Aquarium features a 235-000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat, an albino alligator, a bald eagle, a loggerhead sea turtle habitat and two families of mischievous Asian small-clawed otters.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $15 ages 13-61; $13 children ages 3-12; $14 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; NC EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members.

*EBT rate is applicable to a maximum of four tickets.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

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