Famous escapee otter passes away

Wednesday, 18 August 2010

It has been a sad week at Wellington Zoo as Jin, one of our three short clawed Asiatic otters, was found dead in her enclosure on the morning of Monday 16 August.

She will perhaps be most remembered in New Zealand for her famous escape from Auckland Zoo in 2006: managing to get off the premises and somehow survive in the city’s inner harbours for almost one month before recapture.

Jin arrived at Wellington Zoo with breeding partner Jala, via a short three-month stay at Christchurch’s Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, in November 2007. For the last six months she had been introduced to a new breeding partner Bud, but was unsuccessful in delivering any pups.

Our Keepers noted that she was a feisty animal, always ready to try to nibble at their boots when they were caught unawares – they learnt to become ever more vigilant at these tactics over the years.

A post mortem is currently taking place at Massey University to determine cause of death of the seven year old, and we are now actively looking for a new breeding partner for Bud.

ENDS

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