The Alaska SeaLife Center, after nursing a rescue otter back to health and to a point of strength worth of transportation, has delivered Qilak, an orphaned otter pup, to the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
The Shedd Aquarium is home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the globe, Shedd is a recognized leader in animal care, conservation, education and research.
Qilak (pronounced Kee-lak), a five-month-old rescued male northern sea otter spent nearly two months being monitored day and night and receiving regular health exams by ASLC staff after being rescued from a remote beach in the western Kenai Peninsula on September 7th.
Jane Belovarac, Wildlife Response Curator at ASLC stated, “Otter pups need care and attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it takes a village to rehabilitate a young animal.”
The John G. Shedd Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). For more on the Shedd Aquarium go to www.sheddaquarium.org.
The Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a private, non-profit research institution and a public aquarium and is also an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.
