VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — 12-year-old North American river otter, Sheldon, passed away on Thursday, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s announced.
Virginia Aquarium staff are grieving after Sheldon unexpectedly passed during a routine annual exam. His exam included bloodwork, endoscopy, ultrasound, radiographs and a general check-up.
Sheldon had no signs of health abnormalities before or during the procedure.
The veterinary team will be conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
He was born in 2012 and rescued as a newborn after being abandoned by his mother.
Sheldon enjoyed ice and car wash strips. He liked to suck on his paw, burrow and be vocal with chirps and humming.