The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is celebrating a new addition to its wildlife family: five Asian small‑clawed otter pups were born on Oct. 19. The four males and one female are the latest offspring of Milli and Binx, the resident otter pair who arrived at the aquarium in 2024.

Family background and early care

Milli and Binx previously welcomed three pups—Nyx, Bohdi and Baloo—on Dec. 5, 2025. The older siblings are already playing a supportive role, offering food to their mother, helping with nest construction, and keeping watch over the newborns when the parents are away. Otter keeper Kristen Upton said the team was thrilled to hear the distinct chirps of five pups in the nest and is pleased that each pup is gaining weight, roughly 82 to 92 grams at birth, about the size of a medium lemon.

Conservation significance

Asian small‑clawed otters face declining populations in the wild, making every successful breeding event valuable to the aquarium’s conservation breeding program. By expanding the captive gene pool, the aquarium hopes to bolster future reintroduction efforts and raise public awareness of the species’ plight.

Public access and ongoing renovations

While the otter family is being closely monitored by the care team, the pups are not yet available for public viewing. The aquarium is currently closed for a major renovation and expansion project, which will eventually provide larger, more naturalistic habitats for its residents, including the otters.

Looking ahead

Staff will continue to track the health and development of the five pups, with plans to introduce them to visitors once the renovation is complete and the animals are fully weaned. The successful birth underscores the aquarium’s commitment to wildlife conservation and offers a hopeful sign for the future of Asian small‑clawed otters.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.