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Eddie the sea otter: Famous slam-dunking animal dies | Eddie the sea otter: Famous slam-dunking animal dies |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Eddie the sea otter, a creature that found viral fame in 2013, has passed away shortly before his 21st birthday. | Eddie the sea otter, a creature that found viral fame in 2013, has passed away shortly before his 21st birthday. |
Oregon Zoo, where Eddie lived, confirmed he had been euthanised on Thursday morning following a decline in his health. | Oregon Zoo, where Eddie lived, confirmed he had been euthanised on Thursday morning following a decline in his health. |
Eddie was thought to be one of the oldest of his species in the world. | Eddie was thought to be one of the oldest of his species in the world. |
The animal gained fans around the world five years ago when an online video showed him slam-dunking a toy basketball through a miniature hoop. | The animal gained fans around the world five years ago when an online video showed him slam-dunking a toy basketball through a miniature hoop. |
His zoo say they trained the ageing animal in the sport to help with arthritis in his joints. | |
"Male sea otters seldom live past 15 years, so Eddie was among the very oldest of his kind," Amy Cutting, who oversees the zoo's marine life area, said in a statement. | "Male sea otters seldom live past 15 years, so Eddie was among the very oldest of his kind," Amy Cutting, who oversees the zoo's marine life area, said in a statement. |
In their tribute, the zoo said his behind-the-scenes exercise routine video had made him "one of the most famous animals on the internet". | In their tribute, the zoo said his behind-the-scenes exercise routine video had made him "one of the most famous animals on the internet". |
The otter was originally rescued from the wild as an orphaned pup in California in 1998. | The otter was originally rescued from the wild as an orphaned pup in California in 1998. |
He was rehabilitated at a Monterey aquarium, before being transferred to Oregon Zoo two years later. | He was rehabilitated at a Monterey aquarium, before being transferred to Oregon Zoo two years later. |
The Portland Trailblazers, Eddie's local basketball team, upgraded his exercise hoop with their team logo for his 20th birthday. | The Portland Trailblazers, Eddie's local basketball team, upgraded his exercise hoop with their team logo for his 20th birthday. |
In tweets following his death, the team paid tribute to their "furry friend" who they described as a "true ambassador" for otters and the sport of basketball. | In tweets following his death, the team paid tribute to their "furry friend" who they described as a "true ambassador" for otters and the sport of basketball. |
More like this: | More like this: |
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