Otter Ray is turning seven on March 7 and that means it’s the golden birthday for this otterly amazing ambassador at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF). Ray is an Asian small-clawed otter and has a taste for krill, smelt and shrimp, so his birthday cake will be custom made for him by the otter keepers. The Aquarium invites the community to join the celebration Saturday, March 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Otters on the Edge. The North Carolina Aquariums are a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
“Enrichment is an important part of the routine for our Asian small-clawed otters, so when special days come around, we go the extra mile to make it something that will pique their curiosity,” said Kristen Upton, NCAFF lead otter keeper. “We enjoy seeing how he reacts to the cake and also the excitement it brings to our visitors.”
Ray continues to delight visitors as he swims and romps through the habitats. Meanwhile, the triplet otter pups, Nyx, Baloo and Bodhi born in December, remain behind the scenes with parents, Milli and Binx. It’s all Ray presently and he keeps things interesting. The golden birthday is included in an Aquarium visit. Online tickets are required to visit the Aquarium at NCAFF Tickets.
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.