Rehabbed sea otter, Tazo, ready for exhibit at New York Aquarium

Barry Paddock New York Daily News 06/09/2011 19:19

Tazo the sea otter at New York Aquarium. The otter was rehabilitated in Coney Island after being rescued in Alaska as an orphaned pup.

A sickly, orphaned otter nursed back to health in Brooklyn is doing swimmingly - and he's ready to show off his backstroke. Tazo, an Alaskan sea otter whom Coney Island's New York Aquarium has rehabilitated behind the scenes since August, goes on exhibit today.

"It's so exciting," said Jon Dohlin, the aquarium's director. "He's really happy around people."

Tazo was found as a newborn, dehydrated and helpless, in the Alaskan wild a year ago after a violent storm separated him from his mother.

Because of its expertise with otters, the New York Aquarium, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, took over Tazo's care from the Alaska SeaLife Center last August.

Since then Tazo has been hand-raised by humans. Devoted keepers bottle-fed him, combed his fur and even cuddled with the adorable pup.

"Since losing his mother at a very, very early age, he's never seen another otter," Dohlin said.

Today Tazo, a northern sea otter, will take up residence with Jacob, the aquarium's southern sea otter, in the outdoor Sea Cliffs exhibit.

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