Walle, a North American river otter, is happy in new home at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Walle was raised on a boat and unable to return to the wild.
CLEARWATER – A North American river otter is the newest resident on display at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Walle was about 7 to 9 months old when he arrived at CMA Nov. 19, 2012. He was raised on a boat until “as a juvenile, it was recognized that Walle’s care was far more intense than a regular household pet would require,” according to CMA staff.
“Walle’s caretaker assumed that if Walle was put back into the wild, he would resume life as a normal otter, this was not the case,” CMA staff said in a press release.
Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission then asked CMA if they would take Walle and let him live with Cooper and Oscar, other resident otters.
The North American River Otter is a semi aquatic mammal endemic to the North American Continent found in and along its waterways and coasts.
CMA’s training team worked with Walle and successfully helped him adapt to his new environment. Members of the team can hand feed, touch and interact with Walle. He is now on exhibit for guests to view on a daily basis.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to marine life rescue, rehabilitation and release, and environmental education. CMA is home to dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and Winter the dolphin.
Winter the dolphin’s story of survival and inspiration has touched millions of people around the world. A movie, Dolphin Tale, about her life story is currently being produced by Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment and will star Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., and Ashley Judd. Her documentary, “Winter: The Dolphin that Could” is available at www.SeeWinter.com. The film takes viewers on an extraordinary journey through her rescue, fight to stay alive and extensive rehabilitation. Scholastic published Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again in October 2009.
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