North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher welcomes five Asian small-clawed otter pups

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Five Asian small-clawed otter pups were born Oct. 19 at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, bringing the aquarium’s otter family to 10.

The litter includes four males and one female born to parents Milli and Binx. Aquarium staff say the pups are healthy, gaining weight and bonding with their parents and three older siblings.

This is the second litter for Milli and Binx. Their first three pups — Nyx, Bohdi and Baloo — were born Dec. 5, 2025.

According to the aquarium, the older siblings have been helping their mother by bringing her food and assisting with nest construction. One sibling often stays near the nest to watch over the newborns when both parents are away.

The five pups weighed between 82 and 91 grams each at birth, roughly the weight of a medium-sized lemon. The family will remain behind the scenes while the aquarium’s otter care team monitors their development.

The births also contribute to a conservation breeding program for Asian small-clawed otters, a species listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The species faces threats including habitat loss, pollution, poaching and the illegal pet trade.

Milli arrived at Fort Fisher in January 2024 from Hong Kong, where her parents had been confiscated by local authorities. Binx joined her in fall 2024 from an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility in Florida.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is currently closed for renovations and expansion.