NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher announces 17-year-old otter faces declining health

FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has provided a health update about one of its otters.

Asta, the aquarium’s oldest Asian small-clawed otter, faces declining health.

She is 17 years old and has been with the NCAFF for almost six years, arriving with her family from Columbus Zoo in early 2020.

Asta and her son, Ray, are constant companions in one of the two Otters on the Edge habitats in the NCAFF conservatory.

On Saturday, December 27, the otter team noticed that Asta was experiencing an episode that affected her balance.

The NCAFF animal care and veterinary team transported Asta to the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine on Monday for imaging and blood work.

While at the hospital, Asta underwent a full CT scan and blood work.

The report from the veterinary team showed:

• The initial views of the CT scan were inconclusive as to what may have caused the neurologic episode, but the final report from radiologists is still pending
• Physical exam and imaging confirmed multiple masses – two on her mammary glands, one near her scent gland and another on her neck. Previous diagnostics of the mammary masses are supportive of cancer
• The blood work revealed a low red and white blood cell count, which is likely secondary to kidney disease and cancer

Asta is currently on several medications for her arthritis, low red cell count, and suspected kidney disease and cancer.

Because of the low red blood cell count, the veterinary team changed her prognosis and care plan.

The aquarium said she is not stable enough to go through additional procedures, and is no longer a candidate for surgical removal of the masses.

The aquarium is awaiting the results of a few more tests, but the assessment of the veterinary team is that Asta does not have a good prognosis.

Asta is now on palliative care under the watchful eye of the NCAFF otter team, who is monitoring her daily for behavior changes.

The aquarium notes that Asian small-clawed otters live up to 12 years in professional care, with some individuals living 15 years.

Their lifespan in the wild is unknown.