SEATTLE — A female river otter at the Woodland Park Zoo has died -- at 19-years-old.
The otter was named Salishan -- but was fondly referred to as Sunny by her keepers.
The zoo says Salishan ‘enchanted visitors with her energetic diving, gliding, and cuteness.’
According to the zoo, most river otters live 8-10 years in the wild, but live 18-20 in zoos.
After Salishan was diagnosed with age-related heart failure, she was given a prognosis of 3-6 months to live -- but survived another 12!
Salishan was rescued, along with her brother, from Bainbridge Island -- after they were seen without a mother. She was around 2-months-old.
The zoo says Salishan was named by a second-grade class at North Beach Elementary.
“Children especially loved trying to keep up with her at the viewing window. We will really miss her," said Dr. Jennifer Pramuk, a curator at Woodland Park Zoo.
KIRO
