Reid Park Zoo Says Goodbye to Pfeiffer, One of the Oldest of Spotted Necked Otters in an AZA Zoo
Reid Park Zoo is mourning the loss of one of its most popular residents.
Pfeiffer, the Zoo’s spotted necked otter, died this weekend at an estimated 26 years old. Pfeiffer was one of the oldest of her species in any AZA Zoo. The average lifespan of an otter is considered to be 10 to 15 years depending on the species.
“Pfeiffer was a beloved member of the Reid Park Zoo family. She lived at the Zoo for more than 10 years, and secured her place in everyone’s heart with her big personality.” said Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoo President & CEO.
In August, the Zoo’s veterinarian brought Pfeiffer to the health center to conduct an exam after her care team noticed she was having some difficulties getting around her habitat and was showing disinterest in eating. Due to her advanced age, the team decided to keep Pfeiffer behind-the-scenes permanently to offer a habitat to meet her limited mobility and special health care needs. The animal care and the veterinary teams were monitoring her closely and noticed that over the Labor Day weekend, Pfeiffer’s health deteriorated significantly. After veterinary evaluation the care team made the hard decision to humanely euthanize her.
“My thoughts are with the team who cared for Pfeiffer, and with all the guests who loved watching her during their visit to the Zoo,” Kluge said. “Pfeiffer will be missed tremendously.”