Point Defiance Zoo sea otter dies
A female sea otter died Friday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Tacoma zoo announced Monday.
Kaladi, 6, died after her intestine became twisted, which head veterinarian Karen Wolf said in a news release is not uncommon for sea otters.
Kaladi was an orphaned pup who arrived at a month old in June 2010 after being rescued on the shores of Alaska’s Kodiak Island.
She was likely named for a coffee shop in Seward, Alaska, according to The News Tribune archives.
She was hand-raised at the zoo, needing around-the-clock care in her first few weeks, and she had a big personality from the moment she got to Tacoma.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kaladi,” Wolf said in the release. “She was hugely popular among our visitors for her playful antics and curious nature.
“While we take some comfort knowing that we likely could not have prevented her death, it is difficult to lose such a beloved member of our zoo family.”
Point Defiance has two remaining female sea otters.
Kenny Ocker: 253-597-8627, @KennyOcker
This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 6:50 AM with the headline "Point Defiance Zoo sea otter dies."