Goodbye, Sweet Bali

We are so sad to inform you that our dear, sweet Bali the otter has passed away.  Bali was born on August 8, 2003 at the Sunset Zoo in Kansas where he lived for a couple of years before he was transferred to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. He came to IPPL in August of 2013 after his mate at the zoo passed away. Shortly after he got to IPPL, he was paired with Bubbins, another zoo otter that had lost her mate a few months before. Asian otters tend to form very strong bonds with their mates and Bali and Bubbins were no different, always sticking close to each other and spending most of their time snuggling in the grass until Bubbins passed away in November of 2017.  He was just paired with our newest arrival, Boo, and the two of them hit it off immediately.  In the last two weeks, we have seen our old Bali, playing with his new mate and enjoying doing everything an otter does at IPPL (eat, sleep, eat some more, and PLAY!).

We will all miss this laid-back and affectionate otter who has become a favorite of all staff members here at IPPL. Every morning he would run up to the front of his enclosure to greet the caregivers with an excited squeak when he first saw them.  Mornings just won’t be the same without sweet greetings from this amazing and gentle otter.  Rest in peace, Bali, at least now you can be reunited with your Bubbins.