Orphaned Alaska sea otter now at New York Aquarium

[August 07, 2010]  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- An orphaned sea otter from Alaska has arrived at the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.

Director Jon Dohlin says Tazo arrived at 2 a.m. Friday, accompanied by a keeper and a veterinarian, and "so far, so good."

The 2 1/2-month-old is quarantined for now but will be introduced to the aquarium's two adult otters and should go on exhibit by late fall.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that the pup was dehydrated when it was found in Homer in June. It gained more than 12 pounds at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward under rehabilitation authorized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The otter cannot be released back into the wild because it has become too dependent on people.

[Associated Press]

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