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Va. Aquarium oldest otter dies
"Pungo" was the last otter original to the exhibit
Updated: Thursday, 22 Mar 2012, 8:41 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 21 Mar 2012, 8:05 PM EDT
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The last otter original to the Virginia Aquarium 's otter exhibit has died.
"Pungo" was humanely euthanized Wednesday. Public Relations Manager Joan Barns said the 18-year-old otter had a cancerous mass removed from his chest last October.
Just last week, another one of the aquarium's otters, "Willoughby," passed away, making Pungo the oldest.
In 1996, Pungo, Willoughby and three other otters were brought to the aquarium to inhabit the Marsh Pavilion North American River Otter exhibit.
In the wild, river otters typically live between eight and 13 years. According to the aquarium, the mammal rarely lives to be over 20 in zoos or aquariums.
Currently, the center is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to find more otters to join 5-year-old Tippy and 2-year-old Homer.
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