A Canadian aquarium in British Columbia is offering Twitter users an opportunity to help name its newest female sea otter pup, which has been rehabilitated after it was rescued on the Homer Spit last year.
Work to care for the pup began after it was found Oct. 17 on a road near Mud Bay. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized the otter’s rescue, and it was briefly taken in to the Alaska SeaLife Center’s I.Sea.U critical care unit, eating more than 35 percent of its body weight each day.
The Vancouver Aquarium’s website says the pup, which now weighs about 15 kilograms or 33 pounds, has forged a “special bond” with its caretakers since it was transferred in November. The pup was slowly introduced to pieces of clam and squid, and has now been completely weaned off a liquid diet.
The aquarium eventually plans to house the pup with Tanu, another sea otter rescued by the SeaLife Center and taken in by the aquarium in 2004.
People can vote until March 31 for one of three possible names for the pup, all suggested by members of the SeaLife Center’s Ocean Sciences Club -- Katmai, Susitna or Glacier -- by tweeting one of three messages. While a randomly selected message’s author will get a special visit with the otter cub, Alaskans aren’t eligible to win.
To vote, you must follow @vancouveraqua on Twitter and retweet one of the following messages:
Can’t wait to meet @vancouveraqua’s rescued sea otter! Let’s name her Susitna. http://bit.ly/105fuRu #otterlove
Can’t wait to meet @vancouveraqua’s rescued sea otter! Let’s name her Katmai. http://bit.ly/105fuRu #otterlove
Can’t wait to meet @vancouveraqua’s rescued sea otter! Let’s name her Glacier. http://bit.ly/105fuRu #otterlove
“Winner of the contest via random draw must reside in Greater Vancouver region,” officials wrote.
Contact Chris Klint
