An otter has moved into the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver. (Sadie Brown/Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden).
A river otter is certainly not being koi about its dinner habits.
The otter, which has been preying on koi in a pond at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden since last week, has eaten 10 of the 14 large fish. The Vancouver Park Board said one more koi was consumed at lunchtime Monday.
The animal also continues to evade live trap efforts in the public and private sections of the garden.
The fish are prized for their longevity, size and unique markings
This past weekend, park board staff tried removing the remaining koi from the network of ponds in the garden at the edge of Vancouver’s Chinatown district but were only able to capture one. The koi is being cared for at the Vancouver Aquarium.
The park board said staff are lowering the pond level to net the two remaining fish for transfer to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Otter update: our staff are lowering the water level @Vangarden pond in order to catch remaining koi. One koi has been saved and is now at @vancouveraqua. The otter has taken 10 koi and live traps have been placed to catch it. @Vangarden and the public park remain closed. pic.twitter.com/gQoTjZp9Ov
— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) November 26, 2018
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden remains closed. Officials plan to relocate the otter to the Fraser Valley once it is captured.
With files from The Canadian Press
CHEK News
