The Vancouver Aquarium is mourning the death of a sea otter that was found blinded by a shotgun blast near Tofino two years ago.
Walter, or Wally, was discovered suffering serious gunshot wounds in October 2013 and scooped up by the aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre for treatment.
The sea otter, estimated to have been 13-15 years old when he was rescued, underwent a number of procedures, including a partial flipper amputation and a root canal.
But after years of rehabilitation, Walter’s health started to worsen in the spring, and the animal died early Wednesday morning.
“Our marine mammal biologists did a terrific job making his last few years pain-free and happy,” the aquarium’s head veterinarian, Dr. Martin Haulena, said in a statement.
“He was introduced to and interacted with our female otters on a regular basis and even allowed our staff to touch him for exams, which is amazing for an adult male otter that had never interacted with people before.”
The sea otter was deemed non-releasable by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans because of his health issues, the aquarium said, but became a “beloved” inhabitant for his easygoing nature.
During Walter’s deterioration, he slowed down and had trouble grooming himself. Aquarium workers responded by providing extra care and adjusting his diet, and had him scheduled for a CT scan before his death.
According to the aquarium, male sea otters have an average life span of 15 years in the wild. Walter was believed to be 15-17 years old.
