Sea Otter Channel: November 2018

Nov 4, 2018

Loyce the sea otter dies at the age of 13

ラッコの「ロイズ」天国へ | イベント･新着情報 | 鳥羽水族館公式ホームページ

At the age of 13, Loyce the sea otter passed away at 11:18 A.M. October 31, 2018 at Toba Aquairum, Japan.

Loyce was born in the Adventure World (Shirahama-town, Wakayama) on May 4, 2005. He was transferred to Toba Aquairum for breeding in January 2009, then to Sunshine Aquairum (Ikebukuro, Tokyo) in March 2014. He came back to Toba Aquairum in March 2013 and was thriving until yesterday.

Loyce did not have a chance to leave his own offspring; however, being good at tricking, he was always one of the most popular characters and the center of public attention at the Aquarium. He was so serious that he did perfectly what he learned, which amazed the staffs. We remember his still posture after showing tricks.

As his appetite had declined and not been stable since this summer, staffs had monitored him carefully. During the feeding time at 9:40 A.M. yesterday, October 31st, he was swimming energetically and ate up all his food. Around 11:00 A.M, his condition has taken a sudden turn for the demise at 11:18 A.M. The initial necropsy showed that the cause of the death was acute heart failure, but we are currently conducting pathological examination.

"As he had a good appetite this morning, I am just struck by his sudden death, which I could not imagine at all, " says one of the keepers, "Loyce was intelligent and serious. It's a shame that we cannot see him. I am in grief for his loss, but at the same time, I am grateful that he taught us a lot of things, of which we can take advantage in the future. Thank you, Loyce."

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Male, 13 years old. Under human care for 4928 days.
05/04/2005 Born in Adventure World (Shirahama-town, Wakayama)
01/29/2009 Transferred to Toba Aquairum for breeding loan to pair up with May
03/21/2014 Transferred to Sunshine Aquairum (Ikebukuro, Tokyo) to pair up with Mir.
03/02/2016 Transferred back to Toba Aquairum to pair up with May.

*As of today, Toba Aquairum provides care for one sea otter (May: female, 14 years old).
*There are 9 sea otters under human care in 7 aquariums and zoos in Japan.