Watertown -- The NYS Zoo announced on Thursday that on October 6th, Lola (known to the staff as Odessa), one of the Zoo’s female River otters passed away.
A press release from the Zoo said that Lola had been under veterinary care for several months for a lingering infection, and was showing signs of improvement. Her sudden collapse last week came as a shock to the Keepers and staff.
Lola had been a resident of the Zoo for three years. She arrived at the Zoo in 2009 from South Carolina, where she was hand-raised by wildlife rehabilitators after being orphaned. A favorite among zoo staff and visitors, Lola was well-known for interacting with guests and served as an ambassador for her wild counterparts.
Lola was sent to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for a full necropsy to identify the cause of death which currently indicates sepsis.
