CALGARY – A 12-year-old North American river otter and longtime resident of the Calgary Zoo died Thursday after what zoo officials called a “very upsetting event.”
At approximately 11 a.m., a zookeeper spotted the otter, named Logan, struggling in the otter pool.
“The keeper jumped into the pool immediately to assist the otter in distress but the animal did not survive,” the Calgary Zoo said in a statement.
“This is a very tragic incident that we are all trying to cope with. We appreciate the consideration while we continue to sort out the details of today’s event,” the zoo’s general curator Colleen Baird said.
There are now three remaining river otters in the Cequel Lodge in the Canadian Wilds section: 16-year-old Callebaut, 12-year-old Charlotte, and one-year-old Finnegan. Their exhibit remains open while the investigation continues.