died within an hour of each other earlier this week. Zookeepers told the press they believe the second otter died of a broken heart. " /> "Heartbroken" Male Otters Die Within an Hour of Each Other | News | The Advocate
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"Heartbroken" Male Otters Die Within an Hour of Each Other


OTTERS DAZ AND CHIP X390 (SOURCE DAILYMAIL) | ADVOCATE.COM

Two elderly male otters who were best friends and lived side by side for years died within an hour of each other earlier this week. Zookeepers told the press they believe the second otter died of a broken heart.

Daz, 19, and Chip, 16, lived and died at Naturelands Zoo in Nelson, New Zealand. Their handler said they had been inseparable for nearly 15 years.

She said she believes they lived beyond the normal 14-year life span for otters because they had each other for company.

“They were a great pair of otters, they were interested in what was happening,” Gail Sutton told the press. “The only consolation from this is that they both went together because if one had gone without the other, the remaining one would have been really lost.”

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Denis Nzioka
    Date posted: 4/3/2010 6:29:01 AM
    Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

    Comment:

    Is it me or are they scarily gay?

  • Name: Liam
    Date posted: 4/2/2010 12:34:32 AM
    Hometown: Hollister, CA

    Comment:

    There is video of them too: http://www.3news.co.nz/Otters-best-of-friends-until-death-did-them-part/tabid/372/articleID/149211/Default.aspx If the link doesn't show, bot to 3news dot co dot nz.

  • Name: Brad Bailey
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 11:29:58 PM
    Hometown: Fayetteville, AR

    Comment:

    Well said, Tod.

  • Name: Tod
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 11:02:41 PM
    Hometown: West Hollywood

    Comment:

    It doesn’t say they were romantically involved, but it does talk to bonds and their value. Of course animals don’t have human hang-ups even though they may have some of their own. The otters likely lived much longer because of the excellent care and love they received, and their bond. It's scientifically proven that humans can die of a broken heart. Those emotions, those chemicals, do remarkable things to us, as well as other species. Too many humans are too arrogant and superior feeling to think animals and other species have rich full lives, relationships and societies. They see something to eat, kick out or kill for fun and convenience, and they just don’t know and don’t want to understand their language. Animals understand us, but many humans can't understand them. See my point.

  • Name: Brad Bailey
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 11:00:46 PM
    Hometown: Fayetteville, AR

    Comment:

    If there is an afterlife, I pray for the spirits of these two creatures. May they find each other again.

  • Name: torr melling
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 9:18:45 PM
    Hometown: san francisco, california

    Comment:

    so sad if it isn't an april fool's joke!

  • Name: DavidNTaiwan
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 8:58:42 PM
    Hometown: Taichung

    Comment:

    Consider other animals: in most animal societies, not all animals are allowed to mate. Many times, ONLY the strongest are allowed to mate. In lion prides the male has a harem. Where are the other males? They are off in male packs, sort of like "sperm in reserve." Take a look at wolves. There is the alpha male and the alpha female. These are the only two to mate in a wolf pack. So what are the other male and female wolves doing? And ALL of the pack members help with the feeding, caring, and protection of the offspring! Take a look at geese. Most pair off, but a few will form triads made up of one "straight" female, one "bisexual" male, and one "gay" male. The offspring of these triads have a better survival rate because of more food and better protection from three rather than two. Even lowly male bedbugs will ejaculate into another male. Homosexuality exists in nature in many different forms so there must be something "natural" about it.

  • Name: chris
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 8:47:06 PM
    Hometown: dallas

    Comment:

    OMG sad. Poor otters. At least they had a good life.

  • Name: Zachary
    Date posted: 4/1/2010 8:45:26 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    In the animal kingdom, I do think homosexuality exists. I'm not suprised at the apparent love between these two male otters. And I'm certain love can exist between two male bears as well. Love and bonding are indeed wonderful, and it's unfortunate that so many humans experience so little of it. I would guess animals are more capable of forming bonding and loving relationships because they're less judgmental. Looks, money, or what you do for a living, probably don't enter into the equation so much.



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