An otter rescued more than a year ago on Vancouver Island after being blinded by a shotgun has made a new friend.
Walter, nicknamed Wally, has been recovering at the Vancouver Aquarium's Rescue Centre since being rescued near Tofino, B.C. in October 2013.
During the past year, he has undergone a number of surgeries to repair his injured flipper and mouth.
Wally will never be able to return to the wild because his blindness and other injuries make it impossible for him to find food or defend himself. However he can now start to be social with other otters. On Thursday, aquarium staff introduced him to Tanu, another rescued otter.
The two swam, splashed and ate together. Head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena said the pair are getting used to each other.
"Tanu is just watching him. She is trying to figure out who he is and what he is about," Haulena told CTV Vancouver. "She is being kind of careful, but I'm hoping they interact more and more as the days and weeks progress."
