VIDEO: Happy birthday to aquarium otters Banks and Finn

Banks and Finn celebrated their birthdays with treats this week. [N.C. Aquarium Instagram photo]

Banks and Finn recently celebrated their 6th birthdays with otter-approved birthday cake, treats and palm fronds! The duo serve as ambassadors for their species at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and help share a successful wildlife conservation story.

Did you know? Otter fur has two layers – a coarse, waterproof outer coat and a softer, finer layer for warmth. By the 1950s, river otter population numbers were greatly reduced due to fur trapping and pollution.

The species was listed under the Endangered Species Act and populations rebounded thanks to successful reintroduction efforts, trapping management and cleaner waterways.

Banks and Finn Turn 6

Banks and Finn recently celebrated their 6th birthdays with otter-approved birthday cake, treats and palm fronds! These two are ambassadors for their species and help share a successful wildlife conservation story.Did you know? Otter fur has two layers – a coarse, waterproof outer coat and a softer, finer layer for warmth. By the 1950s, river otter population numbers were greatly reduced due to fur trapping and pollution. The species was listed under the Endangered Species Act and populations rebounded thanks to successful reintroduction efforts, trapping management and cleaner waterways. What actions can you take to help keep waterways clean for these playful mammals and other wildlife? #EarthFairOBX #NCEarthDay50

Posted by NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

.