AssetID: 53250931
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Clam Dunk! Two New Sea Otters Join Oregon Zoo's Watery Basketball Team
Caption: The Portland Trail Blazers' stars are not the only basketball players making waves on the U.S. North West Coast as an unlikely new generation of hoops stars are emerging at the Oregon Zoo. Sea otters Lincoln and Sushi have joined an exercise routine that is considered a slam dunk for animal health and well-being. Several years ago, caretakers at the zoo initiated training for the elderly sea otter Eddie, encouraging him to put a ball through a mini basketball hoop to exercise his arthritic elbow joints. Eddie, who achieved worldwide fame for his dunking skills, was nearly 21 years old when he passed away in 2018, making him one of the oldest known sea otters globally. In 2019, Juno took up the challenge, quickly mastering the playful act and bringing youthful exuberance to the traditional sea otter dunk, often incorporating a spirited 360-degree spin before making the slam dunk. Now a seasoned slam-dunk veteran at 9 years old, Juno has been joined by the younger duo, Lincoln (6) and Sushi (4). Nicole Nicassio-Hiskey, the zoo's senior marine life keeper, commented, "Juno is definitely the star, but our two new 'rookies' are bringing a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the game." Soon the zoo’s bevy of otters might have enough players to take on the Trailblazers themselves - though they may need their watery home court advantage to challenge them. Experts highlight the importance of positive-reinforcement training in animal well-being. While the sea otter shoot-around currently serves as an enrichment exercise, veterinarians suggest it could offer additional health benefits as the otters age, potentially preventing stiffness and arthritis in their senior years. The movements mirror a natural behavior known as a "spy hop," where wild sea otters rise straight up from the ocean to survey their surroundings above the waves. Previously conducted off-view in a behind-the-scenes training pool, the otters' basketball antics are now on display, thanks to a custom-made hoop mounted on the rock wall of their Pacific Shores habitat. Zoo visitors fortunate enough to witness these training sessions can enjoy some thrilling basketball action without the need for season tickets. All three sea otters at the Oregon Zoo are rescue animals, orphaned off the coast of California as tiny pups and rehabilitated through the Monterey Bay Aquarium's rescue and care program. Deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to their inability to be paired with surrogate mums, the otters play a vital role in the Pacific Coast marine ecosystem, supporting healthy kelp forests, and are part of the zoo's efforts, in collaboration with the Elakha Alliance, to reintroduce sea otters to Oregon. Despite protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, sea otters remain threatened by oil spills, fishing nets, and infectious diseases.
Keywords: otters,sea otters,animals,oregon,portland trailblazers,feature,photo,video,nature,natural world
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