Sad! Japan's Toba Aquarium's cutest sea otter "Kira" died at the age of 18

The Toba Aquarium in Mie Prefecture, Japan announced today (5th) that the popular star female sea otter "Kira" (Kira) passed away at the age of 18. Japanese media stated that Toba Aquarium is the only institution in Japan that has artificially bred sea otters in captivity, and now there is only one 22-year-old sea otter left in the aquarium.

According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, Kira was born in "Adventure World" in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture on April 21, 2008. She did not move to Toba Aquarium until March 2021 because she would be with her companion "Mei" (メイ) Together, they help the breeders pack up their props before closing time. Their cute looks have won them a large number of fans. The museum even set up cameras in its breeding area so fans can watch them 24 hours a day.

However, in August this year, Kira developed symptoms such as weight loss and weakness in legs and feet. Considering its advanced age, the museum arranged for professional veterinarians and breeders to conduct close examinations of Kira and continue to observe health changes. On the afternoon of yesterday (4th), it temporarily announced that Kira would be temporarily suspended from public display. The museum stated that Kira suffered from convulsions around 7 a.m. this morning. Although the veterinarian immediately performed first aid measures, the symptoms did not subside. Finally, Kira passed away at 10:40 a.m.

According to the preliminary judgment of the veterinarian, Kira died due to respiratory failure leading to cardiopulmonary arrest. Pathological examination will be arranged to clarify the detailed cause of death. The breeder responsible for caring for Kira revealed that yesterday she was still lying down to eat and shaking her head left and right to interact with herself. She seemed to be in very good spirits. Before she breathed her last breath this morning, Mei and the breeder were with her, allowing her to embark on a new journey with peace of mind under the protection of warmth.

The museum emphasized that all flowers and offerings sent to Kira from the public will be declined, and a "message board" will be set up in the museum to allow the public to write down their thoughts about Kira. In addition, Kira's departure also represents the artificial captive sea otters in Japan, leaving only Mei, who also lives in Toba Aquarium. The museum stated that it has not observed any abnormality in Mei so far, and promised to continue to observe and care for its health. The public display area will continue to be suspended.