One otter back, but zoo still searching for other

Ophelia, the runaway otter from the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has found her way back to safety, yet her counterpart, Louie, remains elusive.

Both otters made their great escape two weeks ago, slipping away through a compromised section of fencing during a snowstorm.

Ophelia was successfully captured on Friday night, as announced by the zoo in a Facebook update. However, her return was discreetly managed, with the news kept under wraps until Tuesday. She underwent a thorough veterinary examination on Monday and was deemed fit to rejoin her usual habitat.

Guests visiting the zoo might not always catch a glimpse of Ophelia, since she has a tendency to shy away, preferring to rest in hidden nooks throughout the day.

Louie, on the other hand, is still at large. With it being the otter breeding season, Louie’s excursions might be further afield compared to Ophelia’s, driven by natural instincts in search of a mate.

Despite his absence, the zoo reassures that Louie is likely within proximity, as otters possess strong territorial bonds. He is well-suited to the local environment, being native to the area, and doesn’t pose a threat to people.

Efforts to track Louie have involved the assistance of a tracker, use of motion-sensitive cameras, and the cooperation of local residents who have reported sightings and provided visual evidence of their encounters with the elusive otter.