Hear ye, Hear ye….Otters have finally returned to the Newport Aquarium! And nobody else in town is quite as excited as my otter-obsessed son Sam is. I snuck him out of school early last week to attend the media preview of the new exhibit at the Newport Aquarium, “Canyon Falls”. I wrote it up as an educational experience for him because he was not only able to see one of the new otters frolic, eat fish and play, but we were also able to talk to one of the Otter’s caregivers, Michelle, who shared all kinds of great information with us about Asian Small Clawed Otters and the background of the newest members of the Newport Aquarium’s family, Neda & Pork Chop. Neda and Pork Chop will be on display on a rotating schedule until they get to know each other a little bit better. You can visit them in Canyon Falls and watch them scamper around or play in the water. I have to admit, Sam’s love of otters is rubbing off on me…they really are adorable and funny little creatures. Along with the otters, Canyon Falls will also be home to some cool lizards and turtles. It’s time for you to plan a visit to the Newport Aquarium to see this awesome new exhibit, Sam highly recommends it (and so do I).
Pictures from our trip to Canyon Falls at the Newport Aquarium ::
Canyon Falls at the Newport Aquarium ::
Asian small-clawed otters are back at Newport Aquarium by popular demand as Canyon Falls will initially feature two otters – Neda (female), who came from Kansas City Zoo, and Pork Chop (male), who came from National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The exhibit will offer guests multiple vantage points to see these playful and social animals up close and personal.
In addition to otters, Canyon Falls will include two species of lizard never before seen at Newport Aquarium – yellow monitors, rare and active tree-dwelling lizards from Indonesia, and panther chameleons, one of the most colorful lizards in the world from Madagascar.
Canyon Falls will also feature two popular holdovers from Turtle Canyon: the iconic Thunder, a more than 100-year-old, 155-pound snapping turtle and Newport Aquarium’s oldest resident, will remain in the temple tank; and the Turtle Corral, where guests have the unique opportunity to touch several species of tortoises.
For more information on Newport Aquarium, visit NewportAquarium.com or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474).
