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Naming of otter pups brightens Vancouver Aquarium as vets fight to save beluga

Nov 23, 2016 | 1:45 PM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Aquarium says despite recent challenges, as staff cope with the death of one beluga whale and the critical illness of another, some new residents of the aquarium are helping to raise spirits.

In a tweet, aquarium officials say names have been selected for the two rescued Alaskan sea otter pups that arrived at the facility on Nov. 1.

The male pup, found stranded in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, has been named Mak, after his rescue site.

The female pup, found by the U.S. Coast Guard on a beach southwest of Anchorage has been named Kunik, which is the Inuktitut word for a traditional Inuit greeting, or “kiss.”