Her fate was unknown until now, but it has been confirmed that the 50-year-old koi which lived in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Vancouver was killed and eaten by the otter.
“Madonna is certainly one of the kois that has a lot of emotional association and attachment for anyone that has been with the garden,” Vincent Kwan, the executive director of the garden, said. “Anyone in the community knows Madonna so a lot of people are still trying to digest what has happened and it’s certainly very emotional. People on our term express great deal of sadness.”
Oh no. Staff confirm Madonna was killed, saying they found her head after a big sweep of the pond yesterday and recognized marks on her head, allowing them to identify the 50-year-old koi. #Otterwatch2018pic.twitter.com/FFvB2O63C9
It is believed the otter, which was first spotted in the garden on Saturday, Nov. 17, ate 11 of the resident 14 koi.
It has not been seen since Saturday, Nov. 24.
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“As of this morning, there is still no sight of the otter. We feel like, ‘Elvis has left the building,’ and he or she is no longer on sight,” Howard Normann with the Vancouver Park Board told reporters Thursday. “So we’ve removed our traps and removed the koi as of yesterday. So right now, it’s status quo, we’ve lowered the pond, removed the remaining fish and there’s no sign of the otter.”
The last two remaining adult koi, along with a number of juvenile koi, have been transferred to the Vancouver Aquarium. One was already transferred on Sunday, Nov. 25.
We are pleased to announce that we are hosting some V.I.K. (Very Important Koi) guests here at #VanAqua. They have quickly won over the hearts of aquarists, and we’re happy to support @VanGarden and @ParkBoard during this rescue mission. #OtterWatch2018pic.twitter.com/hL4vB1Uhdp
WATCH: (Aired Nov. 19) A hungry river otter has ended up in the Vancouver’s famous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and has been feeding on the valuable fish
Otter loose in Vancouver’s classical Chinese garden feeding on expensive koi
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The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens has now reopened to the public. Normann said if anyone spots the otter, they should take a photo and send it to the park board.
“We’re installing some grates on both our doors – we’re going to have automatic door closers,” he said. “We’re putting a plate along the bottom to prevent the otter or any of the otter’s friends from re-entering the garden. We hope that will solve that issue from them coming back into the garden. That’s the only source we’ve found of access.”
Officials are still not sure where the otter came from, but believe it was likely a resident of False Creek before it took up residence in the garden.
“The unique part here, walled garden, 20-foot walls, limited access – how the otter figured this place out, we’re still not sure,” Normann said.
WATCH: (Aired Nov. 23) Vancouver Park Board brings in expert to deal with hungry otter
Vancouver Park Board brings in expert to deal with hungry otter
There are still concerns the otter will try to come back.
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“If it were to get in, if it’s coming from a different way we don’t know about, there’s really nothing for it to eat,” Normann added. More than likely, it will come back. They’re habitual, so if they find a food source, they rotate through.
It’s not known when the koi will be returned to the garden but Kwan said that decision will be made in time.
WATCH: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens reopens
Vancouver Chinatown garden reopens with otter prevention plan in place
“It’s very emotional, the koi, they are very important as decorative elements in the garden but going beyond, being beautiful, they do have values and significance from a cultural perspective, especially in Chinese culture,” he said.
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“I’d like to see that through this process, it brings greater awareness about animals, preservation and also the cultural meanings behind elements like the koi, which is something that can be positive out of this event.”
Chinese Garden staff say this is a difficult time as the koi have value and significance from a cultural perspective. It goes back thousands of years, in legends, where the koi fish represents perseverance, transformation and happiness. Elements ingrained in Chinese culture.
“At the end of the day, they have symbolic representations that ties to things that are related to preservation, transformations, happiness – things that are very abstract but they’re elements that [are] ingrained in the Chinese culture.”
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