MANTEO, N.C. – The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has welcomed a new otter.
The new otter, Olive, is a female North American river otter that came from a wildlife rehabber in Scotland County who took her in following an injury.
Olive is currently in an area reserved for newly arrived animals, to allow staff the ability to continue to treat and observe her.
Due to health issues, the aquarium says she is not able to be released back to the wild, but her caretakers are monitoring her carefully to determine whether or not she can be introduced to the aquarium's otter habitat.
“We would love for our guests to get to know Olive, but we have her health and best interest at heart,” says Aquarist Kristine Davis. “Since she is an older animal with an injury in her past, we are watching her closely and providing the care she needs. Her comfort and well-being are our priority.”
Since she is recently out of the wild her care is a priority one, according to the aquarium. Visits by aquarium staff are even limited to only those who are caring for this new otter.
If it is determined that Olive won’t be in the public, the aquarium says she will still continue to receive top notch care during her continued life at the aquarium.
“We care for many animals behind the scenes and their health and well-being is as important to us as any other animal here,” Davis says.
Wild Wetlands is already home to two male otters, Banks and Finn. It was also home to a female otter Molly until she passed away in July 2019.
The aquarium says they plan to share updates, photos and videos of Olive as her progress allows.
