NC Aquarium opens up naming contest

Though this isn’t strictly Randolph County related (our normal criteria), since we are home to the North Carolina Zoo and the otter fun it has provided, this might interest some folks in these parts. Plus, c’mon, look at those dudes’ faces!

Through Feb. 19, the public is getting an option to name the three otter pups born at the NC Aquarium in Fort Fisher, NC. (NOTE: NC Zoo members get in free at the Aquarium.)

Now, you don’t get to pick names out of the air. Three sets of names have been chosen and voters can pick one of those threesomes, which are:

Option #1

Koshi (river in Nepal/China)

Bheri (river in Nepal) Seti (river in Nepal)

Option #2

Bo (Cantonese for wave)

Eddy (small whirlpool where otters swim)

Reed (marsh plants where otters live)

Option #3

Nyx (shortened form of Aonyx - genus of ASCOs)

Baloo  (bear in Hindi, a large mammal)

Bodhi (a fig tree native to India and Southeast Asia, regarded as sacred by Buddhists)

Too bad you can’t at least mix and match the names because Bojangles’ might pay a pretty penny to sponsor a pairing of Bo and Bheri. But it is what it is.

Here’s some more info on the otter pups:

■ They were born during a full moon on Friday, Dec. 5, in Fort Fisher.

■ They are all males and they share very special genetics, as noted under each photo.

■ Their grandparents, Si and Fun, are from Hong Kong and so is their mom, Milli.   

■ The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department confiscated Si and Fun in 2018 and sent them to Ocean Park Hong Kong under the professional care of animal experts there. 

■ Milli was born at Ocean Park in Hong Kong in 2018 and arrived at NCAFF in Jan. 2024. Binx arrived at the Aquarium in the fall 2024 as her mate, also from an AZA facility.

The pups appear destined to be one-of-a-kind and promising additions to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan program. The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

You can vote at www.ncaquariums.com/vote-to-name-the-2025-otter-pups-.