A trio of otters celebrated their tenth birthday together at Portsmouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium over the weekend.
Asian short clawed otter siblings Ralph, Patty and Selma were all born at the aquarium back in 2006.
For all three to now be celebrating their tenth birthdays is a major achievement and keepers decided they wanted to mark it with an extra special party for them.
Blue Reef Aquarium’s Hannah Butt said: “The aquarists have been hard at work creating an amazing frozen birthday cake which was filled with their absolute favourite food items.
“It was a slightly bizarre mix, which may not have appealed to everyone, but it certainly went down extremely well with Ralph, Patty and Selma.
“Among the ingredients were strawberries, carrots, crayfish, peas, grapes, melon, fish, prawns and mussels!” she added.
In addition to their cake, the otters also received a number of special gifts from the staff.
These included boxes full of hay and monkey nuts which the otters love to play with, along with a selection of other floating toys.
As their name suggests Asian short claw otters are found throughout southern Asia including India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Unlike most otters, their front feet are only partly webbed and have short claws used for digging under rocks and in the mud.
These special adaptations make them particularly dexterous and you will often see them ‘juggling’ or playing with rocks and pebbles.
They are highly social and intelligent mammals with a wide vocabulary. Scientists have identified up to 12 different calls.
Issued by Blue Reef Aquarium. For more information and to arrange picture/interview opportunities please contact H
annah Butt on 02392 875222.
For all three to now be celebrating their tenth birthdays is a major achievement and keepers decided they wanted to mark it with an extra special party for them.
Blue Reef Aquarium’s Hannah Butt said: “The aquarists have been hard at work creating an amazing frozen birthday cake which was filled with their absolute favourite food items.
“It was a slightly bizarre mix, which may not have appealed to everyone, but it certainly went down extremely well with Ralph, Patty and Selma.
“Among the ingredients were strawberries, carrots, crayfish, peas, grapes, melon, fish, prawns and mussels!” she added.
In addition to their cake, the otters also received a number of special gifts from the staff.
These included boxes full of hay and monkey nuts which the otters love to play with, along with a selection of other floating toys.
As their name suggests Asian short claw otters are found throughout southern Asia including India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Unlike most otters, their front feet are only partly webbed and have short claws used for digging under rocks and in the mud.
These special adaptations make them particularly dexterous and you will often see them ‘juggling’ or playing with rocks and pebbles.
They are highly social and intelligent mammals with a wide vocabulary. Scientists have identified up to 12 different calls.
Issued by Blue Reef Aquarium. For more information and to arrange picture/interview opportunities please contact H
annah Butt on 02392 875222.