Sea otter shoots hoops
Image: Eddie
Basketball eases arthritic pain for talented otterA fifteen-year-old sea otter has been taught to play basketball to help ease arthritis in his elbows.
Eddie, the grey-haired otter, underwent an x-ray at Oregon Zoo in the US last year, where he has lived since he was abandoned in the wild as a pup.
The x-ray found that Eddie was suffering with arthritis in his elbows, so staff decided to teach him basketball in order to help improve his joint function.
Now an expert at "shooting hoops", Eddie has become an internet sensation. His video on YouTube named "Sea Otter Hoop Dreams" has received over 700,000 views.
He almost never misses and, if he does, he keeps going till he gets it in.
Zoo leader Jenny DeGroot explained: "There aren't many natural opportunities for Eddie to work those arthritic elbow joints because sea otters don't use their front limbs to swim - they swim by moving their back legs and flippers.
"Sea otters have incredible dexterity, so it makes sense Eddie would have this hidden talent. They're famous for using rocks as tools to crack open clams."
The zoo allows each animal to exercise in a way that's specifically beneficial to them. In this case, basketball is a creative workout that also relieves Eddie's joints.
Unfortunately, zoo visitors will not be able to see Eddie's skills first hand, as his hoop is set up in his private training pool.
However, click here to watch the zoo's video of him in action.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
