Visitor's to Vancouver's serene Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden on the weekend saw something very unusual going on: A wayward river otter was helping himself to the koi in the pond.
The Garden believes the otter has eaten five of their adult koi fish.
The hungry river otter was certainly himself a fish out of water, as the saying goes; this is the first time the Chinese Garden has ever found a river otter in their pond.
Some speculate the river otter got to the pond by way of the sewer system.
The Garden staff reached out to the Vancouver Aquarium, who can't themselves take custody of the otter, since he isn't a marine mammal. The Vancouver Park Board is reportedly working to relocate the otter, however.
The otter was first spotted at the Chinese Garden pond on Saturday, and was still there Monday, according to Global.
For the Chinese Garden, who have struggled of late to maintain and grow their koi population in their pond, the river otter's presence is bittersweet--after all, he's feasting on the fish they care for.
The Park Board is expected to be on site Tuesday.
"We ask that the public not feed the otter, and as always, strongly urge against any release of wildlife into the pond," adds the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
