Featured Image Credit: Friends of Vancouver Aquarium
It’s been almost a month since Vancouver Aquarium got a call from concerned citizens about an otter pup seen swimming alone in open water off northern Vancouver Island.
Well, the fuzzy-faced pup is now estimated to be about 2 months old- and he needs a name! Since his arrival, the tiny otter has received 24-hour, round-the-clock care from both staff and volunteers at the Marine Mammal Rescue Center at Vancouver Aquarium. It’s a tough job being a stand in otter mom! The baby is fed, bathed, and groomed every single day, just as his mother would do.
Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved caring for this pup, the little fuzzball continues to gain healthy weight and has been growing stronger and more active each and every day.
The three names to choose from are:
Hardy: The tiny male otter pup was found swimming along off northern Vancouver Island, and first taken to the District of Port Hardy for initial treatment.
Kasa: In Kwak̓wala — the language of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw First Nations on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island — ḵ̓asa is the word for sea otter.
Masik: Also in Kwak̓wala, ma̱si’ḵw is the word for large sea urchins
To vote for your favorite name, click here!
The winning name will be announced on Monday, July 24 on Vancouver Aquarium’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
The aquarium will also be randomly selecting one participant from the entries to receive a four-pack admission to the Vancouver Aquarium, plus a Sea Otter Aquadopt kit. Aquadopt kits are a unique gift that support our mission to conserve aquatic life and help us care for our rescued sea otters.
The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, accredited institution and does not receive ongoing funds to provide around-the-clock care for its rescued and rehabilitated animals. To make a contribution for the care of this sea otter pup, please visit support.ocean.org/rescuedotter