It's back! The koi-killing otter of Vancouver returns
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Sat, 02 Nov 2019 19:09:40 +0000
Remember the sneaky otter that caught the world’s attention last November when it filled its belly with the prized koi out of the pond at Vancouver’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden?
Well it may be back for its annual feast.
On Saturday, the park board said the garden’s pond has been temporarily closed while staff deal with “the appearance of an otter in the pond.”
The otter was sighted and confirmed to be at the pond on Wednesday morning along with the carcasses of three koi.
Park board staff say they took “immediate action” and began lowering the water levels of the pond in order to remove the existing koi.
Staff at Vancouver Chinatown’s Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden are pictured on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 attempting to capture and relocate one of four remaining koi fish after a hungry river otter moved into the garden.
A live trap has been set for the otter, but just like last year it has not been caught.
On Friday, staff removed six large koi and 74 small koi from the pond. They say the fish have been moved to a safe location.
Staff are continuing to sweep the pond Saturday to ensure all koi are removed and the plan is to re-open in 48 hours.
There’s no confirmation it is the same otter as last year.
For days the otter eluded traps, snatching the bait and vanishing without a trace. As each prized koi was snatched, so grew the desire to catch the carnivorous mammal.
Some marvelled at the otter’s quick wit in outsmarting the trappers, and the creature became sort of an anti-hero on social media.
Observers of the drama were encouraged to pick a side, and Team Otter or Team Koi buttons began to appear.
ticrawford@postmedia.com